Name
William Rhodes
Circa 1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
02/08/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27864
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
William Rhodes was born in 1880 at Bitteswell, near Lutterworth, Leicestershire to William and Harriet Rhodes, their youngest child and only son. William senior was a gardener and at that time was working in the gardens of the Manor House, Bitteswell.
In the 1881 Census: William was living with parents and siblings in Bitteswell, Leicestershire. His was a domestic gardener. In 1891 they recorded as living in the gardener’s cottage, Bitteswell. Where William (senior) was still a gardener working in the gardens of Cuckfield Place, Sussex.
By 1901 William was 22, had left home and was in service, working as a domestic footman at 15 Grosvenor Sq., London for Ralph and Susan Vivian.
By 1911 he was working for Lord and Lady Mount Stephen at their London house, 17 Carlton House Terrace as well as at Brocket Hall. The head of the household was Lord Mountstephen (Lord Cowdray). There were 17 servants in the household.
He did not marry and in 1917 he enlisted at Bedford and joined the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database (SDITGW) records William as born in Bitteswell, Leicester and was living in Hatfield, Herts when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
William was originally listed as missing in action in Belgium and later as killed in action on August 2nd, 1917 or later.
The War Diary for period when he died reads:
1 Aug 1917 - trenches near Stirling Castle At 5.45 a.m. Lt. Colonel C.H.de.St.P. Bunbury [Charles Hamilton De St. Pierre BUNBURY] carried out a personal reconnaissance and found dispositions of Companies to be as follows: - 'A' and 'D' Coys in JACKDAW RESERVE nr STIRLING CASTLE. "C" Coy about 300 yards behind them in trench running N. and S. between JACKDAW AVENUE and JAM AVENUE. "B" Coy could not be found, but were discovered later in the day to be occupying a trench about 50 yards behind "C" Company. They thereupon moved up and relieved "D" Company who withdrew and came into Battalion Reserve occupying trenches near Bn. Headquarters. 2nd Lt. C.H. Shaw [Charles Henry SHAW] Died from wounds. 2nd Lt.T.J. PEMBERTON - Wounded. 4 p.m. Orders received to relieve 17th BN.K.L.R. in front line 7 p.m. Commanding Officer after conferring with O.C. 17th Bn. K.L.R. decided that it would be impossible to carry out this relief owing to the Marshy State of the Ground. Warning Order received that Battalion would have to carry out an attack in about 2 days time on same lines as that ordered on 31.7.17.
2 Aug 1917 Battalion in same disposition at 12 noon. Major R.O. Wynne D.S.O. [Richard Own WYNNE, DSO] assumed Command of Battalion owing to indisposition of Commanding Officer. At 1 p.m. Code Message received that Brigade expected to be relieved that Night at 3 p.m. Verbal confirmation of above received. At 7 p.m. Guides under 2/Lieut C. Shekbury [Cecil SHEKURY, MC] left for DORMY HOUSE
3 Aug 1917 - Micmac Camp At 2 a.m. 12th Bn. Middlesex Regt arrived to relieve the Battalion. relief completed by 5 a.m. On relief the Battalion withdrew to CHATEAU SEGARD Area No.2. At 6.15 p.m. Battalion left for MICMAC Camp arriving about 7 p.m. Casualties for these Operations: - 2nd Lieut. C.H. Shaw [Charles Henry SHAW] Died of Wounds. 2nd Lieut. T.J. PEMBERTON Wounded Other Ranks: - Killed 14 Missing 3 Wounded 50 (1 Self-inflicted) Shell Shock 6 Gassed 2 TOTAL 75.
The entry in the Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine, Lemsford News for September 1917 reads:- “His friends in Lemsford will be grieved to hear that Private Rhodes, Bed Regt., is reported “Missing”. He was a valued servant of Lord and Lady Mount Stephen, who hope to hear news of him that he is still alive, even if a prisoner."
Awarded Victory Medal & British War Medal.
Additional Information
After his death £4 3s 1d pay owing was authorised to go to his mother on 16 September 1918. Later a war gratuity of £5 10s was authorised to be paid to her on 6 January 1920.
His pension cards record Mrs Harriet Rhodes of Oakroyd, Broad Street, Cuckfield, Sussex – later amended to Somners, South Street in the same town - as his mother as his next of kin. She was awarded a pension of 6s a week from 26 March 1918.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk), www.bedfordregiment.org.uk, Andy Chapman & www.lemsfordww1.co.uk
