Name
William Henry (Harry) Darby
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/11/1918
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3371
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
Baptised in 1890, William lived in Hitchin and was the son of Henry and Emily Ellen (poss occasionally listed as Helen, born in Royston) Darby.
In 1891 the family were living in Dacre Road, Hitchin and in 1901 the family included younger brother Wilfred James (b1892) and they were living in Whinbush Road, Hitchin. By 1911 they were still in Whinbush Road, (no. 85), Henry was working as a carpenter in the building trade William, now 21, had followed him into that profession and Wilfred was working as an apprentice coach painter.
A pension records that he married and had a widow.
Wartime Service
Military records for William are scarce. He was in No. 4 Company of the Regiment, as his name appears on their memorial. However, his name does not appear in the Herts volume of ‘Soldier; died’ nor has it been found in the CWGC records. This suggests that he probably died after discharge from the army after active service and died later.
When he died in Hitchin and his home was at 6, Cannon's Cottages, Hitchin Hill, Hitchin.
It is not clear whether he was already in the Hertfordshire Territorials and therefore called to serve on the 'Home' front - territorials were required to do this, but did not have to serve overseas unless they volunteered to do so. His Silver War Badge record (256641) gives the 2nd October 1914 as his enlistment date, which maybe when he volunteered for overseas serve or when he joined the Hertfords.
He was discharged as no longer fit for active service on the 24th March 1916 under the clause 2. (b). (a), (1) aged 26.
Additional Information
His name is missing from the CWGC records and he has not been identified in the Soldiers Died in the Great War records.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
