Name
William Radley
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
12/09/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
471254
London Regiment
12th (the Rangers) Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 10
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not listed on Harpenden Memorials
Pre War
William was born in Harpenden on 1891 to William John Radley and Mary (nee Rhead). The family were living at Upper Cravells Road.
On the 1901 Census William was living in Monk’s Kirby, Warwicks, with his maternal Grandmother, His mother and family were living at Prince of Wales Gardens, St Pancras. On the 1911 census the family were living at Rochester Road, Kentish Town, St Pancras, London and William was an insurance clerk. He had two older brothers Frank, born in 1188 and Arthur born in 1890.
Wartime Service
William had joined the 12th (County of London) Battalion, London Regiment (the Rangers) as Private 5157 about Feb 1916. This was a designated Territorial Regiment and in the general renumbering of all Territorials in 1917 William gained the serial number 471254 from the set 470001 to 490000 allocated to 12 Battalion.
During his service William was promoted to Serjeant. William served until 12 Sep 1918 during the breaking of the Hindenburg line when he was killed in action. His body was not recovered and he is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. William’s award of the Military Medal was published in the Gazette on 21 Jan 1919.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £18 and arrears of £3 14s 1d was paid to his father.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
