BAREHAM, William



No 245473, Private, William BAREHAM
Aged 38


1st/2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
formerly 355122, 7th Battalion, London Regiment
Killed in Action on Friday, 10th May 1918


William Bareham was born in Clare (Risbridge Q4-1880 4A:522), son of Thomas and Ann BAREHAM (née HICKFORD).

The William Bareham, son of George William and Anne Bareham was born 1879, had a sister Doris May Bareham [1898] who married William Simpson, and Mrs D M Simpson was sister and informant when William died in Clare in 1955, thus hopefully identifying the William here as son of Thomas and Ann Bareham

1881 census... Aged 1 he was at 48 Bridewell Street, Clare with his father Thomas BAREHAM [32] farm labourer; his mother Ann [32]; brothers James [12], George [10] and Harry [6]. All were born in Clare.

1891 census...Aged 11, he was at Common Street, Clare with his parents, brothers James (blacksmith), George (farm labourer), Harry (farm labourer), Richard [8] and Thomas [3]; sister Julia [6]. The new siblings also born in Clare.

1901 census...Aged 21, a farm labourer, he was at Cavendish Lane, Clare with his parents (father now horse keeper); brothers James (blacksmith), Richard (apprentice harness maker)and Thomas (flour miller); sister Julia.

In Q2-1905 he married Portsmouth born Ellen Maud PAGE(b. 16-1-1879).

1911 census...Aged 31, a farm labourer, he was at Station Road, Clare with his wife Maud [32] born Portsmouth and niece Julia [4] born Ovington, Essex

On the pension card his widow was first at Corfu House, Ashen Road, Clare and then at 21 Paddington Green London W2


He enlisted in West London when resident in Paddington. At one time the CWGC had him as dying in 1919, but this has been proven to be a typo. Unfortunately his "Soldiers Personal Effects" entry has not been found, which could have more positively identified him.

After the bitter fighting of the Battle of the Lys had ended with the failure of the German Army to break through to Hazebrouck, the front lines in the Vieux Berquin sector were re-established in front of Aval Wood, on the eastern fringe of the Nieppe Forest.
The 2nd Royal Fusiliers war diary has :-
"Bois d'Aval" 10/5/18 - Quiet day. Very little shelling. A few 8 inch shells fell close to Battalion HQ. Patrols were sent out during night and found that shell holes at 36a.E.29.a.3.6. were unoccupied."


William's is the only CWGC recorded death. He is buried quite some way from Aval Wood, Dainville being a western suburb of Arras.




photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



William Bareham is buried in Dainville British Cemetery, grave 1:C:1

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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