Rainbow, W G
WILLIAM GEORGE RAINBOW
Remembered with honour Bedford House Cemetery: Enclosure No. 2, Plot IV, Row A, Grave 15.
He enlisted in Watford; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 16 August 1914, and died at 85 Field Ambulance of wounds received in action. Unfortunately, William’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Son of Mary Ann (nee FINCH) RAINBOW; husband of Beatrice Alice (nee BEALE) RAINBOW.
William FINCH was born 17 September 1886 in Berkhamsted, Herts, and baptised 20 October 1886 at St Peter’s, Berkhamsted. He attended first Berkhamsted Infants’ School; then Beechen Grove Board School, Watford, from 29 May 1893 to 16 May 1898. He married 1908 in the Watford district; they had four children. He resided in Watford. Alice remarried 1921 in the Watford district to Frederick G BEESON, she died 1948 in Watford aged 59, and was buried 29 June in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
His mother married James Owen RAINBOW 10 December 1889 in Bedford. She possibly remarried 23 December 1916 at St Michael’s, Watford, to Thomas STONE (though a death for James is proving elusive). If so, she died 1928 in Watford aged 67, and was buried 15 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 5 he lived in Berkhamsted, with his mother, step-father and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, a golf caddie aged 16, he lived in Watford, with his mother and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a professional golfer aged 26, he lived in Stanmore, Middx, with his wife and one child.
Service number
7733Rank
PrivateUnit
1st BattalionRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
31/03/1915Age at death
28Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
aka FINCH W G- 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)