Name
(Matthias) William Ings
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/01/1915
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
8297
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RUE-DAVID MILITARY CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX
Plot II, Row E, Grave 46.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour,
St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Matthias and the late Mary Ann (nee RADFORD) INGS of Watford.
His parents married 1883 in the Croydon, Surrey, district. Mary died 1892 in Bushey Heath, Herts, aged 32, and was buried 2 June at St James’, Bushey. Matthias remarried 16 September 1893 at St James’, Bushey, to Emily Eliza WELLS. Matthias died 1949 aged 92; Emily died 1958 aged 84; both in the Watford district.
William was born 1884 in Streatham, Surrey, and baptised 17 January 1886 at All Saints, Clapham Park, London. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, [Matthias] a scholar aged 5 lived in Bushey, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, [William] a houseboy aged 15 he lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and five siblings. On the 1911 Census, [Matthias] a plumber’s labourer aged 25, still lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and six siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 27 December 1914, and was killed in action in the trenches south-west of Fleurbaix.
Additional Information
There is an article about William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 20 February 1915; as well as In Memoriams in the issues dated 22 January 1916 and 27 January 1917.
Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
