LEATHERHEAD WAR MEMORIALS - WWI
Pte William George Searle
1st/8th Bn Middlesex Regiment
Town Memorial P7.R2.C3
Private
William G. Searle
8th Middlesex Regt.
France
Oct 14 [sic] 1916
Taken, Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
The regimental records¹ give the following particulars of William George Searle: He was born in Leatherhead but enlisted at Ealing and was killed in action on 4th October, not 14th October 1916. His regimental number was T/F 6546 and he was serving in 1st/8th TF Bn. [TF: Territorial Force]
The Parish magazine of November 1916 also stated that 4th October was the fateful day².
The War Diary reference for the 1st/8th Middlesex TF Bn. is WO95 2950³
Sources 1. Soldiers Who Died in the Great War (Middlesex Regiment):
Imperial War Museum, London
2. Parish Magazine SS Mary and Nicholas Leatherhead November 1916
3. Volume WO95 Supplementary Guide: Public Record Office, Kew
William Searle is listed on the Church Lads Brigade tryptich at All Saints' Church.
The CWGC record is
SEARLE, WILLIAM GEORGE
Service Number TF/6546
Died 04/10/1916
1st/8th Bn. Middlesex Regiment
Cemetery/memorial reference: Pier and Face 12 D and 13 B.
The CWGC date of death is 4th October, which corresponds with the report below in the Dorking & Leatherhead Advertiser on Saturday 4th November 1916.
The date on the Town Memorial, 14th October 1916, appears to be incorrect.
He was 12 days short of his 38th birthday when he died.
On Thursday last Miss Searle, of Linden-road, Leatherhead, received notification from the War Office that her brother, Pte William George Searle, of the Middlesex Regt., was killed in action on Oct, 4th. Pte. Searle, who was 39 [sic] years of age and single, joined up in April last, and after doing his training at Canterbury went out to France with a draft about month ago. His last letter was received on October 1st, and nothing more was heard until the War Office notification came that he had had been killed in action on October 4th.
Deceased, who was very well known known locally, was formerly in the employ of Mr. W.H. Impson, builder, Bridge-street, Leatherhead.
Pte. Harry Searle, of the motor transport section, and a brother of the deceased, lost his life by the sinking of the City of Palermo in January last. Two other brothers are also serving with the Colours, one being in France and the other in England.
| The date of his death was at the the time of the Battle of the
Transloy Ridges, but access to the War Diary would be needed to
check what was entered for the 4th October 1916. William was born on 16th October 1878 in Leatherhead he was baptised at St Mary and St Nicholas's church on 26th January 1879 His parents were Edward James Searle, a carpenter, and Louisa. In the 1901 census William is living with his family at 37 Linden Cottages, Leatherhead his occupation is Plumber's Labourer. In 1911 the family were still living there: William's profession was Labourer. William had three brothers Harry Thomas, Alfred and Arthur, and one sister Ellen. He was a member of the Loyal Duke of Connaught Lodge of the Dorking District Independent Order of Oddfellows. He is commemorated on a plaque in the doorway of the Oddfellows Hall in Dorking as well as on the Leatherhead Town Memorial. His War Gratuity of £3.00 was sent to his sister, Ellen. His brother Harry Thomas, who died in January 1916 in the sinking of the SS Citta di Palermo, is also commemorated on the Leatherhead Town Memorial. At present, given that his other two brothers do not appear on the Leatherhead Town Memorial, it appears that they may have survived WW1 but this will need further research. LinksMiddlesex Regiment 1914-18Battle of the Transloy Ridges https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Le_Transloy |
 |
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family
page created 1 Feb 2018: the editor is grateful to
Patricia Brazier, a volunteer researcher for Dorking Museum, who
provided the genealogical information and the press report.