Name
William Charles Gurdler
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/03/1918
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
9268
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 28 and 29
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
St. Peter's C & E Primary School Memorial, Mill End
Pre War
William was born in Rickmansworth on the 8th of August 1887 and baptised there on the 9th of October. His parents were Henry, a Labourer, and Sarah Ann (nee Miles)Gurdler.
In 1891, with their six children, they were living Church Street, Rickmansworth. In 1901 the family was in Uxbridge Road, Mill End, William age 14 being a Gravel Pit Carter. In 1911 William was a private in the Bedfordshire Regiment based at Prospect Barracks, Bermuda. Monies due to William were paid to his sister, Mrs Florence Gristwood who had married John Henry Gristwood in 1905.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
The 2nd Battalion was in South Africa when war broke out and was immediately recalled to England.
They joined 21st Brigade 7th Division, refitted for European warfare, and landed in France 7th October 1914. They moved 40 miles south to meet the rest of the Army near Ypres and met the Germans for the first time in a brief skirmish on the 18th of October, before taking part in the First Battle of Ypres.
Over the next four years the Battalion took part in numerous actions on the Western front.
William lost his life during the Battle of Rosieres, one of the actions in the German 1918 Spring Offensive. On the 27th of March the Battalion had withdrawn to the Arviller- Folies road line while under heavy shellfire which continued the next day until the enemy attacked on both flanks. They were ordered to withdraw when the enemy reached within a 100 yards of their position and incurred more casualties from machine gun and shell fire as they did so.
Additional Information
Brother of Private James Henry Gurdler who was killed in action on 4 Sep 1916 and of Private Horace Gurdler who died on 12 Nov 1918 and of Private Albert Gurdler who was killed in action on 22 Mar 1918. All are commemorated on these memorials.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
