Name
William Osborne Wootton
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/07/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
140321
Royal Engineers
128th Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 9.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
William Osborne Wootton was born in 1892 in Blackfriars, Surrey, the son of Osborne and Alice Wootton (nee Huggett), and one of five children. He was baptised on 4 September 1892 in Christchurch, Southwark, London at the same time as his brother Charles Ernest. The family were then living at 35 Brunswick Street and his father was working as a bricklayer.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 23 Cross Street, Watford, Herts and his father continued to work as a bricklayer. Although his parents were living at Letchmore Heath, Aldenham, Herts on the 1911 Census, William was not living with them. On 20 February 1912 he departed from Southampton on the Cunard ship Ascania and arrived on 2 March 1912 at Portland, Maine, USA. (It seems his parents later followed him to the U.S.A and their address on CWGC records was Sanford, Maine.)
He returned to England in 1914 on the Cunard ship Orduna from New York, travelling 3rd class, and arrived in Liverpool on 21 December 1914. The incoming passenger list recorded that he would be staying at 38 Rosebery Road, Bushey, Herts and that his occupation was bricklayer. He was said to be a resident of Bushey, Herts at the time of enlistment.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford and joined the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, serving with 128th Field Company.
William was killed in action on 2 July 1917 but has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £7 and pay owing of £2 9s 7d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
