William Allan Wagstaff
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William was the only son and surviving child of William and Ada Wagstaff (née May). His father William was born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, in about 1864. His mother Ada was born in Birmingham in about 1869, the daughter of John and Ann May. William and Ada were married in Sparkbrook parish church, Warwickshire, in September 1891 and had two children, one of whom died in infancy. William Allan was born in Yardley, Solihull, in 1895; the child who died was probably Ethel Kate b. 1892, bap. Sparkbrook October 1892, who died in 1894 (reg. West Bromwich). William, a fruit merchant's manager, Ada and their son were living on Evelyn Road, Sparkhill, Yardley, in 1901. By 1911 the family had moved to 16 Melbourne Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. William was a wholesale fruit salesman and his son a clerk (lace industry). William's parents were living at 8 Florence Road, West Bridgford, when he was killed, and this was the address given on the later CWGC record. However, it seems likely that William and Ada returned to Warwickshire where William probably died in 1927 (reg. Alcester) and Ada in 1936 (reg. Rugby).
16th Bn Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment). Formerly 3554 Private. The 16th Battalion was one of the battalions of Kitchener's New Army and served in France from January 1916. Eight battalions of the Royal Scots, including the 16th, were committed to the Battle of Arras, 9 April-May 1917. The 15th and 16th Battalions served with 34 Division south of Roclincourt and were relieved on the night of 14/15 April but returned to the line in the Point du Jour area on 23 April. Both battalions were each only 400 strong when they went into action in the area of Roeux; the 16th Battalion lost over 300 men. William Allan Wagstaff was killed in action on 28 April 1917, probably in the fighting around Roeux. He was initially reported missing and his death was not confirmed until November that year. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the commemorated on Arras Memorial, France (Bay 1 and 2). CWGC - History of the Arras Memorial (extract): The Arras Memorial is in the Faubourg-d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras. 'The memorial commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC: 'Son of William and Ada Wagstaff, of 8, Florence Rd., West Bridgford, Nottingham' Mundella Magazine, July 1917, Old Scholars' Column: 'Alan (sic) Wagstaff reported to be missing.' Mundella Magazine, Christmas 1918: 'ROH: 'Wagstaff.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 12 November 1917: ‘Wagstaff. Missing April 28th, now officially reported killed in action, William Allan, dearly-loved son of Mr and Mrs Wagstaff, 8 Florence-road, West Bridgford.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In memoriam' notice published 29th April 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “WAGSTAFF. – In loving memory of William Allan Wagstaff, Royal Scots, killed in action April 28th, 1917. – From his sorrowing father and mother.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Registers of Soldier's Effects: his father William was his legatee.
