Name
Archibald Henry (poss Henry Archibald) Waller
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/02/1917
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
35338
Essex Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BRAY MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot II, Row A, Grave 16.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Langleybury Village Memorial, St Paul's Church Memorial, Langleybury, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey
Pre War
Archibald Henry Waller, born on 7th March 1883 in Watford, Herts, the son of Henry Charles Waller, a Domestic Gardener and Eliza Waller, (nee Doggett), one of five children, Alice (Born 1877), Elizabeth (B 1879), Gertrude (B 1881), and Francis (B 1887).
His parents married 25 August 1873 at St Andrew’s, Watford. Henry died 1910 in Watford aged 63, and was buried 20 October at St Paul’s, Langleybury, Herts.
1891 Census records Archibald aged 8, at School, living with his parents and four siblings at Lady Caples Cottage, Hempstead Road, Watford.
Archibald attended Langleybury Primary school, St Andrews Boys School, Watford from 7 March 1892; then Callowland Board School, Watford, from 6 January 1896 to 17 January 1898.
1901 Census records Archibald aged 18, employed as a domestic baker, living at home with his parents and three siblings, at Lady Caples Cottage, Watford.
In 1910 his father Henry died in Watford aged 63, later that year Archibald married Lily Elizabeth Dell a domestic servant from Kings Langley the daughter of Frederick and Fanny Dell, on 26th December, at All Saints Church, Kings Langley, Herts. They had one daughter Ethel May Waller, born on 5th April 1912.
1911 Census records Archibald and his wife Lily living with his widowed mother at Lady Caples Cottage, Watford, and working as a domestic gardener.
Wartime Service
When war broke out, Archibald enlisted in Bedford as Private 33175 in the Suffolk Regiment, later transferring as Private 35338 to the 2nd Battalion of the Essex Regiment.
He served on the Western Front and died at No. 48 Casualty Clearing Station, Bray-sur-Somme, France, on 17 February 1917, aged 33. He is remembered with honour at Bray Military Cemetery on the Somme in France.
He is commemorated on the Memorial at St Matthew’s Church, Oxhey.
There is a Death announcement for Archibald in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 3 March 1917, and a brief article in the issue dated 10 March 1917.
Additional Information
The value of his effects were £2-14s-2d, Pay Owing and £3, War Gratuity, which went to his widow Lily. Lily was awarded a Widows Pension of 21/8, a week for herself and daughter Ethel. His mother, Eliza died 1927 in the Watford district aged 83, and was buried 8 February, also at St Paul’s. Lily never remarried, she died 26 March 1954 in Watford, and was buried 31 March at St Paul’s, Langleybury. Also see ‘Additional Information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Bushey First World War Commemoration Project
