Name
William John Wiggs
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/05/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
265362
Hertfordshire Regiment
1st/1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VLAMERTINGHE MILITARY CEMETERY
Plot VI, Row H, Grave 15.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN FROM DAD, MUM SISTER & BROTHERS
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Beechen Grove Baptist Church Memorial, Watford, St James' Church Memorial, Watford Fields, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Son of William Henry and the late Eliza (nee CLEAVER) WIGGS of Watford.
His parents married 4 August 1894 at St Mary’s, Watford. Eliza died 1899 in the St Alban’s, Herts, district aged 27, and was buried 8 April at Holy Trinity, Frogmore. William remarried 1902 in the Watford district to Lilian/Lily HAYES; he died 1941 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 15 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Lilian died 16 June 1962 in Watford aged 83, and was buried 21 June, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 1897 in Watford, and resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 3 he lived in Watford, with his widowed father and one sibling. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 13 he still lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and three siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted 5 November 1913 in Watford in the Territorial Force for four years’ service: a painter aged 17, 5’5″ tall.
He served at Home to 4 November 1914, and in France from 5 November 1914. He was attached to Brigade Bombers 15 September 1915 and gra
Additional Information
His headstone inscription was ordered by, Mr Fred R Wahlers, 22 Albion Street, Everton, Liverpool: "GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN FROM DAD, MUM SISTER & BROTHERS". There is an article about and a Death announcement for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 May 1917; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 4 May 1918. Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
