Colley, W J
WILLIAM JESSE COLLEY
Remembered with honour Terlincthun British Cemetery: Plot V, Row F, Grave 9.
He enlisted in Watford, and was formerly Private 34209 SUffolk Regiment and Private 41252 Essex Regiment. He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and died of wounds received in action. Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an In Memoriam for William in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 18 October 1919.
Son of George and Eliza Agnes Whiteman (nee GROOM) COLLEY late of Watford; husband of Rose (nee KING) COLLEY of Wealdstone, Middx.
His parents married 16 March 1867 at St James’, Bushey, Herts. Eliza died 7 July 1919 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 11 July in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; George died 18 September 1925 in Watford aged 82, and was buried 23 September, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
William was born 19 October 1878 in Watford, and attended first Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Victoria Boys’ School, Watford, from 9 February 1885. He married 25 August 1895 at St James’, Bushey; they had nine children. Rose never remarried, and died 1966 in the Harrow, Middx, district aged 89.
On the 1881 Census, aged 2 he lived in Oxhey, Herts, with his parents and five siblings. On the 1891 Census, aged 12 he still lived in Oxhey, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1901 Census, a gardener aged 23, he lived in Watford, with his wife and three children. On the 1911 Census, a market gardener’s labourer aged 38, he still lived in Watford, with his wife and six children.
Service number
64263Rank
PrivateUnit
15th BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
15/10/1918Age at death
40Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
Mentioned in Despatches- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)