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War
Memorials Elsewhere, - Watford (Herts), Roll of Honour |
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Watford's First
World War Roll of Honour
Photo : The Imperial War Museum's War
Memorial Register
The Watford Borough Roll of Honour is a hand written book thought to have been designed by the Watford School of Art to remember the 830 service men who fought and died during the First World War.
The book is housed in the Watford Borough Museum, Lower High St, Watford, Hertfordshire.
4 men who served with the Yorkshire Regiment are commemorated in this book.
Private Victor Arthur Brice. 34639. 5th Battalion the Yorkshire
Regiment, formerly S/4/146256 RASC. Son of James George and Fanny Brice, of
33, Merton Rd., Watford, Herts. Killed 30 March 1918. Aged 21.
Born Charlton (Hants), Enlisted Watford, Resided Chipperfield (Herts).
Commemorated on Panels 31 and 32, POZIERES MEMORIAL.
Private Frederick Shortland. 9767. 1st Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.
Died 15 August 1917.
Born Bricket Wood (Watford - Herts), Enlisted Canterbury, Resided Abbots Langley
(Herts).
Commemorated on the KARACHI WAR MEMORIAL.
2nd Lieutenant Alfred Charles Strugnell. 2nd Battalion
Yorkshire Regiment. Killed 1 July 1916.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 3 A and 3 D, THIEPVAL MEMORIAL.
The following notes are from Robert Coulson's Biographies
of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"A Hampshire man, Alfred Strugnell was born in Aldershot in 1889.
He served as a private soldier early in the war with the 16th Lancers and
rose to the rank of Sergeant with them.
On June 14th 1916 he received his commission “For distinguished conduct
in the field” and joined with the 2nd Battalion at Corbie where they
were in preparation for the Somme offensive.
July 1st 1916 at 7-30am saw 2nd Lt Strugnell and the 2nd Battalion leaving
their trenches for an attack on the German held village of Montauban.
The battalion were in support of the 18th Kings and 19th Manchesters and incurred
over two hundred casualties as they crossed no mans land to reach the German
line.
2nd Lt Alfred Charles Strugnell was killed in this action at Montauban on
July 1st 1916 aged 27 and his body lost he is remembered today on theThiepval
Memorial to the Missing."
Captain Noel Tracey Wright. 3rd Battalion Yorkshire
Regiment, attached to 2nd Battalion. Son of Tobias T. and Emma S. Wright.
Born at Bombay, India. Killed 1 October 1915. Aged 21.
Buried SAILLY-LABOURSE COMMUNAL CEMETERY.
The following biographical notes are provided by Robert Coulson in his Biographies
of Officers of the Yorkshire Regiment;-
"Noel Wright was born in Bombay in India in 1894 where his father worked
for the railway company.
He attended University College in London and at the onset of war was commissioned
into the Yorkshire Regiment on August 15th 1914.
He was attached to the 2nd Battalion on December 15th 1914 joining them in
the Ypres Salient.
He was promoted to Lieutenant in February of 1915 and the following month
saw action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. He fought again in May at Festubert
and in June at Givenchy after which he was promoted again to Captain.
In September when the Battle of Loos opened the battalion were at Vermelles
and from here on September 25th Captain Wright in charge of “B”
company advanced towards Hulloch and Cite St Elie. Fighting went on for the
next few days and on the night of September 30th the Yorkshires were ordered
up to reinforce a battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. At 9-30 p.m. Captain Wright
and his men went forward only to find just one gap in the wire where they
could pass through.
On detecting their movement the Germans immediately put up Very Lights and
concentrated heavy fire on this part of the wire, severely wounding Captain
Wright.
Taken from the battlefield for treatment, Captain Noel Tracey Wright died
of his wounds the next day October 1st 1915 aged 21."
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