William Abbott (abt. 1874 - 1918)

Born about 1874 in Ipswich St Clement, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Apr 1918 at about age 44 in Ypres, Belgium

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Matt Abbott [send private message]

Biography

At the time of his death William was a Cpl in the Royal Engineers, Army No 250771. His family were living at 226 Kingston Rd., Hampton Wick. Middlesex England. William served in the Sudan Campaign and the South African Campaign. He enlisted in Regiment of Rifles in The Winchester Rifle Brigade at Ipswich Suffolk on the 9th of April 1892 aged 18. Army No on enlistment 2269. He served 9 years and 32 days in the regular Army and 2 years and 62 days in the reserves, during his enlistment he served 7 years and 210 days abroad. Decorations include the Sudan Medal, 1896, Khadives Medal with Khartum Clasp, 1896 South African Medal with Relief of Ladysmith Clasp, Laing's Nec Claspand Belfast Clasp, Kings South African Medal., 1891-92., The 1914-1918 king's Medal and the Great War To End All Wars Medal. During his army service he attained a 3rd class Certificate of Education. He was mustered out on 8th April 1904 at Winchester England. Original and copy of Parchment certificate of discharge dated 8th April 1904 at Winchester {held] He enlisted on the 13th May 1904 at St George's Barracks London W 1 He joined the Royal Engineers on the 13th May 1915 and saw action in France and Belgium. He was killed in action at Ypres on the 22nd April 1918. William is buried in the Haringhe [Bandaghem] Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West Vlaanderen, Belgium. Original and copy held of a letter to William from his neice Esther. Her father was a George W. Abbott and is probably the brother of William. George was a L/Cpl in 12 Platoon, C. Coy. 15th Yeoman Battalion Suffolk Regiment B.E.F. His Army No was 200615. The letter is dated 1st March 1918. Esther's address was 21 Cavendish Street, Ipswich Suffolk. Original and copy of Driver's Licence for William for one year dated 30th April 1908. Original photo of William in 1912 and around 1917. Copy and original of National Registration Card. Original and copy of drivers licence dated 30th April 1906 until 30th April 1907. Original and copy of travel warrant dated 4th July 1917 [held]. During his time between army service he was employed as a house furnishing yard foreman [1904 in London] and a Commissionaire for a large London store when registering for the National Registration Commission as a 37 year old. [Probably a false age, he was about 43 at the time] Name: ABBOTT, WILLIAM Initials: W I think it will be difficult to trace his activities. I have just done a few searches on the National Archives Catalogue on Railways and engineers and don't have a hit for France and Flanders. I was seeking a War Diary so that you can trace something about his duties.That's not to say there isn't something somewhere,though ! You may not be aware that Bandaghem is a bit of Tommy humour (fictional name to do with bandaging them,geddit ?) and was one of three groups of Casualty Clearing Station to the west of Ypres of such a constructed name. It is likely that he was wounded and died of those wounds at Bandaghem and was buried in the cemetery which served that group,which had three CCSs Nos 36,62 and 63. You'll have to work out what Mendinghem and Needinghem were ! There was a lot of action around Ypres in early 1918,the German offensive, Kaiserschlacht, was on the go and there was a great deal of metal in the air from some of the largest concentrations of Artillery of the whole War. If he was active on Railways these would have almost certainly been targeted by the enemy. I will take a peek in a couple of places and if I find anything will return. In the meantime someone will come up with something !

Sources

• CORPORAL WILLIAM ABBOTT Service Number: 250771. from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. first accessed onlie on the 17th of October, 2021 at: https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/93502/william-abbott/

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12550662/william-abbott : accessed 17 October 2021), memorial page for Corporal William Abbott (unknown–22 Apr 1918), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #12550662, citing Haringhe Bandaghem Military Cemetery, Poperinge, Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen), Belgium ; Maintained by David Neller (contributor 47482893) .