Name
William Ranald Ware McCarthy
31 August 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/11/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Border Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Searched but not found
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
GAZA WAR CEMETERY
XXIV. A. 8.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bishop's Stortford memorials (*1)
Pre War
William Ranald Ware McCarthy was born on 31 August 1898 (possibly in China where his father was a professor of mathematics in a large university and also headmaster of St Paul's High School, Anking), the son of William and Mary McCarthy.
His father was vicar of St Michael's Church, Bishops Stortford in 1927.
He was said to be living at Woodside Cottage, New Barn Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight in 1917.
Wartime Service
He joined the Border Regiment and served as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion. He was later attached to the 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment
William was killed in action in Gaza on 2 November 1917, aged 19, during the 3rd Battle of Gaza and is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine.
Additional Information
William McCarthy, engineer, lieutenant R.N. obtained probate of William's estate in Winchester on 2 August 1918 with effects of £134 0s 0d. He also received a war gratuity of £5 and pay owing of £134 0s 9d.
*1 William is also commemorated on the family grave in the Bishop's Stortford Old Cemetery, his part of the inscription reads:
"ALSO 2ND LIEUT. WILLIAM RANALD WARE McCARTHY WHO FELL IN ACTION IN GAZA NOVEMBER 2ND 1917, AGED 19. AND WAS BURIED IN A MILITARY CEMETERY THERE.
"SO HE PASSED OVER, AND ALL THE TRUMPETS SOUNDED FOR HIM ON THE OTHER SIDE"
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
