Name
Edwin Rackley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
28
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
L/10576
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 12D and 13B.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Sarratt Village Memorial, Holy Cross Church Memorial, Sarratt
Pre War
Son of William and Sarah Ann (nee BATEMAN) RACKLEY; husband of Ada (nee LEE) RACKLEY.
His parents married 21 March 1885 at St Paul’s, Chipperfield, Herts. Sarah died 1922 in Sarratt, Herts, aged 58, and was buried 1 September at Holy Cross, Sarratt; William died 1951 in Watford aged 88, and was buried 13 February, also at Holy Cross.
Edwin was born 5 December 1887 in Sarratt, and baptised 22 January 1888 at Holy Cross, Sarratt. He married 1912 in the Norwich, Norfolk, district; they had one child. Ada never remarried and died 1952 in the Norwich district aged 72.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Sarratt, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 13 he still lived in Sarratt, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, he is proving elusive.
There is an article about Edwin in the Watford Observer dated 8 July 2016.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date (serving overseas) was 14 August 1914, from that date he must have been a serving soldier or at least a recent entry to the reserave list. He was twice wounded before being killed in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Edwin’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
