Rolph, W
WALTER ROLPH
Remembered with honour Thiepval Memorial: Pier and Face 6B.
He enlisted in Hertford, and was formerly Private 3376 Hertfordshire Regiment. He appears to have no medals, and was presumed killed in action. Unfortunately, Walter’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Son of the late George and Mary Ann (nee YERBY) ROLPH; husband of Emily (nee DILKS) ROLPH.
His parents married 25 December 1874 at St Mary’s, Watford. Mary died 1893 in Watford aged 39, and was buried 20 December in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. George remarried 1895 in the Watford district to Elizabeth CHAPMAN. He died 26 June 1908 in Watford aged 54, and was buried 29 June, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery; Elizabeth died 23 December 1945 in Watford aged 80, and was buried 28 December, in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Walter was born 25 December 1886 in Watford. He attended first Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School from 16 January 1893 to 22 April 1901. He married 1912 in the Watford district, and resided in Watford. Emily never remarried; she died 24 September 1923 in Watford aged 40, and was buried 28 September in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
On the 1891 Census, aged 4 he lived in Watford, with his parents and eight siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 14 he still lived in Watford, with his father, step-mother and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, an auxiliary postman aged 24, he still lived in Watford, with his widowed step-mother and six siblings.
Service number
27801 or 28701Rank
PrivateUnit
6th BattalionRegiment
Date of death
on or since 16/09/1916Age at death
29Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
Recorded as RALPH W on the Oxhey Memorials, and is also commemorated on his wife's grave in Vicarage Road Cemetery. His brother-in-law William DILKS died 1 or 4 March 1918 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)