South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | British War & Victory Medals | Beaurains Road Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| After 1 Jan 1916 in France | ~ | Stratford on Avon WW1 Memorial |
| Stratford Holy Trinity Church | ||
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Died | Date and Place Enlisted | Stratford Cemetery Memorial |
| Battle of Arras | June/July 1915 in Leamington Spa | Warwickshire RHA Memorial |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | Other War Memorials |
| Monchy | Original service number 715 | ~ |
Circumstances of Death
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William served in the name William Archibald Priest, his mothers maiden name. See below in Personal section William is listed as being killed in action on 21st April 1917 having been initially reported as missing in action. The 15th Brigade war diary entries for the 20th to 22nd April are transcribed below. Monchy-le-Preux 20.4.1917: Enemy artillery very active. Track for guns to advance to forward positions commenced. More ammunition sent forward by night. Casualties: B RHA Sgt G King killed, Gnr A. Edgington wounded. Monchy-le-Preux 21.4.1917: Enemy artillery very active. Bombardment by our heavy guns kept them silenced for a part of the day, but the moment we stopped the broke out. Casualties: B RHA Gnr A. Taylor killed. Warwick RHA Drv B. Blackburn wounded, Drv W. Priest missing, Gnr AM Owen wounded. Drv A. Morgan of B missing since 20th. 15th Brigade shot according to programme shown in App VI. Monchy-le-Preux 22.4.1917: Bombardment by our heavies continued. B had direct hits on 2 guns, Z on one. 15th Brigade shot according to programme shown in App VI. Casualties this day. L RHA Drv A Gould wounded, Gnr F Williams wounded, remaining at duty. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 22 Nov 1894 at 42 Sheep Street, Stratford-on-Avon | 29 Dec 1894 in Stratford on Avon |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| William and Mary Ann Fletcher nee Priest | 16 Ely Street, Stratford on Avon |
| Next of Kin | Abode |
| Clara Neale nee Styles (half sister) | 14a Windsor Street, Stratford-on-Avon |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1894 - 42 Sheep Street, Stratford-on-Avon | 1901 - School age |
| 1901 - Not found - parents in Yardley | 1911 - Bakers Lad |
| 1911 - 16 Ely Street, Stratford-on-Avon (grandparents) | |
| 1917 - 14a Windsor Street, Stratford-on-Avon | |
- William was born on 22 November 1894 and named William Archibald Fletcher on his birth certificate
- Williams parents were listed as William Fletcher and Mary Fletcher formerly Priest
- Williams parents though were married a month later on 29th December 1894 in Wilmcote
- One set of Williams maternal grandparents were William and Sarah Styles
- Williams next of kin in his Army record in Clara Neale nee Styles
- In the 1901 census we have yet to find William but his parents and younger siblings were in Yardley, Worcs
- In the 1911 census his parents and siblings were living at 1 Garrick Court, Stratford on Avon
- We do not know why William was estranged from his recorded birth parents.
- We do not know when William took his mother's surname, he uses the name Priest in 1911 census.
- All of his WW1 military records are in the name of Priest, including his War Grave
- William is named as Fletcher on the local War Memorials but not the 1st/1st Horse Artillery memorial in Warwick.