Name
William John Griffen
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/09/1914
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
L/13838
London Regiment *1
4th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of George and the late Mary (nee PLANT) GRIFFIN of Watford.
His parents married 1888 in the Colchester, Essex, district. George died 1936 aged 69; Mary died 1903 aged 36; both in the Watford district.
William was born 1890 in Aldershot, Hants, and resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, there is only a James Henry aged 1 who lived in Aldershot, with his parents and one sibling. On the 1901 Census, aged 9 he lived in Watford, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Private in the 4th Battalion Royal Fusiliers aged 20, he was stationed in Aldershot.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hounslow, Middx, 17 December 1909 a labourer; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 13 August 1914, and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There is an article about William in the Watford Illustrated dated 10 October 1914, and the caption to a photograph in the issue dated 8 May 1915. His brother George died 21 April 1915 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour. Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
*1 More correctly London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
