Rackley, A
ALFRED RACKLEY
Remembered with honour Hooge Crater Cemetery: Plot XIII, Row F, Grave 19.
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, and was killed in action in the front line near Mount Sorrell. Unfortunately, Alfred’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There are articles about Alfred in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 7 April 1917, 25 August 1917 and 3 November 1917 (including a Death announcement); plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 5 October 1918 and 11 October 1919.
Son of William and the late Annie/Ann (nee COXHILL) RACKLEY.
His parents married 12 April 1884 at All Saints, Croxley Green, Herts. Annie died 1905 in Watford aged 45, and was buried 12 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. William remarried 23 March 1912 at St Mary’s, Watford, to Mary Ann HOW. He died 1934 in Watford aged 76, and was buried 1 November in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Mary died 1936 in Watford aged 78, and was buried 19 March, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Alfred was born 18 August 1890 in Croxley Green, and baptsied 2 November 1890 at All Saints, Croxley Green. He attended first Red Lion Yard Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 17 January 1898 to 29 July 1904. He resided in Watford.
On the 1891 Census, aged 7 months he lived in Croxley Green, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 11 he lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a chocolate moulder aged 20, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed father and five siblings.
Service number
31336Rank
Private/SignallerUnit
6th BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
07/10/1917Age at death
27Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
His brother Albert died 31 July 1917 and also features on this Roll of Honour- 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)