Name
Bernard Wallace Mead
2 Aug 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/06/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
4th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BAILLEUL COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION, NORD
I. C. 139
France
Headstone Inscription
YOUNGEST SON OF HENRY JOHN MEAD I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH
UK & Other Memorials
Memorial, St Georges Church Kensington, London, Not on the Letchworth memorials
Pre War
Bernard Wallace Mead was born on 2 Aug in 1893 to Henry John Mead, solicitor, and Edith Charlotte (nee Gifford).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Henry G (solicitor, born 1877), Helen (born 1879), Christine S (born 1880), Raymond G (Sun fire insurance clerk, born 1882), Beatrice C (born 1884), Margaret J (born 1886), Edith E P (born 1889),Godfrey C F (born 1891), Bernard W, with Florence Patten (cook) and Edna F Goldspink (housemaid) were living at 40, Norland Square, Notting Hill, Kensington, London.
Bernard was educated at Cranleigh School.
On the 1911 Census the family of parents, Christine (governess), Beatrice (secretary), Godfrey (Cambridge student), Bernard (Sun Fire insurance clerk), with Jessie Scott (cook), Maria Field (parlour maid) & Frances SM Clarke (maid) were living at 27, Ladbroke Gardens, Notting Hill, Kensington.
Bernard had joined 1/28th (County of London) Battalion (Artist’s Rifles) as Private 910 in 1912.
Wartime Service
Bernard volunteered to serve overseas soon after the outbreak of the Great War, landing in France on 28 Oct 1914.
The Battalion became an Officers Training Corps and Bernard was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant (unattached) on 5 Apr 1915 joining 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers almost immediately, joining them at Ypres. Bernard was wounded on the night of 30 May, being sent to the front line on relief, with a Captain and NCO they met two Officers returning. They were noticed from the Germans Trenches about 25 yards away; a flare was sent up, the Germans opened fire and Bernard was hit. He was evacuated but died of his wounds on2 Jun 1915.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £45 4 6d was paid to his father who also received probate of £96 5s 2d.
His connection to Letchworth is yet to be determined.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
