Name
William Arthur Henderson
6 September 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/11/1916
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
8605
Princess Charlotte of Wales’ (Royal Berkshire) Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MAILLY WOOD CEMETERY, MAILLY-MAILLET
II. C. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey memorials
Pre War
William Arthur Henderson was born in Bushey on 6 September 1892, the son of Jonathan and Dorothy Henderson and was baptised on 14 October 1898 in Oxhey, Herts. He was one of seven children, although one died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 8 Stanley Villas, Gordon Road, Wealdstone, Middlesex where his father was working as an accountant's clerk. His mother was living at 120 Masons Avenue, Wealdstone, Middlesex in 1911 with other members of the family but his father was recorded living at Low Leyton, Essex, with a housekeeper and boarder, at 47 Scarborough Road, Leytonstone, Essex and working as a railway accounts clerk. William has yet be found on the 1911 Census but he was said to be living in Camberwell at the time of enlistment.
Wartime Service
As William served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment in France from 13 August 1914 when they landed in Rouen. It is likely that he was already a serving soldier at the outbreak of war and would have soon seen action in the Battles of Mons, Marne, Aisne and the First Battle of Ypres. The 1st Battalion served on the Western Front throughout the conflict.
William was killed in action in France on 14 November 1916, aged 24, when he was involved in an attack during the final days of the Battle of the Somme. He is buried in Mailly Wood Cemetery, Mailly-Maillet, France.
Additional Information
His mother Dorothy received pay owing of £17 5s 11d and his brother Robert received a war gratuity of £13. Robert was noted on the CWGC records as his next of kin living at 121 Wells Street, Camberwell, SE5. His mother also received a pension of 3 shillings a week with her address being 30 Portland Place South, Clapham, London.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
