Name
William Dean
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/9393
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY
XXI. L. 2.
Iraq
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Memorial Plaque, St Lawrence Church, Bovingdon, Memorial Plaque, Memorial Hall, Bovingdon
Pre War
William Dean was born on 17 February 1893 in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, the son of Arthur and Mary Ann (Geary) Dean and was one of ten children, although two died in infancy.
On the 1901 Census the family had moved to 'The Bank', Bovingdon, Hertfordshire when his father was working as a hay binder. They later lived at High Street, Bovingdon.
William joined the army sometime before 1911 and was listed on the census as a Private with the Royal West Kent Regiment at McGregor Barracks at Aldershot, Surrey.
His parents were living at High Street, Bovingdon in 1911 and his father died in 1913 aged 58.
Wartime Service
It is likely that William was a serving soldier at the outbreak of war and the 2nd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment were in Multan (Mooltan) India in August 1914. They were moved to Mesopotamia, arriving at Basra on 6 February 1915. They were attached to the 30th Brigade of the 6th (Poona) division in November 1915 and were besieged at Kut-al-Amara where they were captured on 20 April 1915.
William spent the rest of his time as a prisoner of war in Turkey and died from illness or disease on 3 September 1916, aged 23. He is buried in Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery, Iraq.
Additional Information
Brother of Private Reuben Dean who was killed in action on 7 Nov 1914 and is also commemorated on these memorials. His mother received a war gratuity of £11 10s and his pay owing of £32 7s 2d was divided between his mother, brothers and sisters, including his brother's widow Dolly Dean.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Dick West, www.longlongtrail,co,uk
