Name
William Ratcliff
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/11/1918
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
40076
Leicestershire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLAINE FRENCH NATIONAL CEMETERY
Sp. Mem.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Croxley Mills, Croxley Green,
Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial,
St. Peter’s Church Memorial, Mill End,
St. Peter's C & E Primary School Memorial, Mill End
Pre War
In 1911, aged 22, William lived with his parents, James and Mary Ratcliffe, and five siblings at 1 Shenley Villas, Mill End. He worked as a coal porter.
In 1901 the family lived in Whites Row, Uxbridge Road, Mill End and William’s father worked as a labourer in a gravel pit. He was born in Rickmansworth and James William Ratcliff’s birth was registered in Watford district in the second quarter of 1889.
Recorded as enlisting in Watford.
Wartime Service
Private, 40076, 7th Leicestershire Regiment, formerly 5064, 1/5th Leicestershire Regiment. William died on 8th November 1918. Soldiers Died in the Great War records his birthplace and residence as Rickmansworth.
His battalion formed part of the 21st Division which had been in action at the Battle of the Selle in the final advance in Picardy from 17th to 25th October 1918. On 5th November they pushed the advance up to the bank of the Sambre, south west of Maubeuge. On 6th the advance continued and on 8th the 21st Division had a sharp fight before dislodging the enemy from the Bois du Temple, Ecuelin and Limont-Fontaine.
At the armistice the Battalion was located near Berlaimont.
Unfortunately, William’s service records have not survived and the Commonwealth War Graves’ record presents a puzzle. He is recorded as being buried at Plaine in Alsace and his original grave was at Liepvre Military Cemetery, in Alsace, a long way from his unit. Liepvre was behind German lines so it is possible that he was taken prisoner in one of the German offensives of 1918 and died as a prisoner of war.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Tanya Britton, Brian Thomson
