Name
William George Birkett
29 November 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/08/1918
35
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
25999
Grenadier Guards
No. 3 Company, 1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MORY ABBEY MILITARY CEMETERY, MORY
V. D. 1
France
Headstone Inscription
I HAVE NOT DONE WITHOUT CAUSE ALL THAT I HAVE DONE
UK & Other Memorials
Berkhamsted Town Memorial, St Peter’s Church Plaque, Berkhamsted
Pre War
William George Birkett was born in Long Buckley, Northamptonshire, the son of William George and Elizabeth Birkett, and was baptised on 29 November 1886 in Watford, Northamptonshire. His father's occupation was given as gardener.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Flore, Northamptonshire, where his father was working as a gardener, not domestic, and 14 year old William was an agricultural labourer.
He married Alice Smith in 1910 and on the 1911 Census William and Alice were living at Ashleigh, Bovingdon, Herts, where he was working as a gardener. They had a son Leslie William born on 8 December 1914.
His widow later lived at 21 High Street, Berkhamsted, Herts (CWGC) and 42 High Street (pension card).
Wartime Service
William enlisted in London and joined the Grenadier Guards, serving with No. 3 Company, 1st Battalion.
He was killed in action on 25 August 1918 during the second Battle of the Somme, and is buried in Mory Abbey Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £9 10s and pay owing of £18 1s 11d plus £3 6s 3d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d a week for herself and her son, which was later increased to £1 10s 2d. While living at 21 High Street, Berkhamsted, Herts., she ordered his headstone inscription: "I HAVE NOT DONE WITHOUT CAUSE ALL THAT I HAVE DONE".
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jo Bayley
