Name
William Edward Rose
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/11/1917
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
204220
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, SOUCHEZ
Plot XIX, Row E, Grave 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
THE SPIRIT SHALL RETURN TO GOD WHO GAVE IT
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of the late John and Mary (nee POPE) ROSE.
His parents married 29 August 1891 at St Peter’s, Bushey Heath, Herts. Mary died 1903 in Watford aged 36, and was buried 5 August in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; John died 1909 in Watford aged 47, and was buried 18 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 18 June 1892 in Watford, and baptised 31 August 1892 at St Mary’s, Watford. He attended first Sotheron Road Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 5 March 1900 to 28 May 1907.
On the 1901 Census, aged 8 he lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1911 Census, a printer’s labourer aged 18, he still lived in Watford, with two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Wolverton, Bucks; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died of self-inflicted wounds.
Additional Information
His headstone inscription reads: “THE SPIRIT SHALL RETURN TO GOD WHO GAVE IT”. Unfortunately, William’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)
