Private William Joseph Beavor
| Date of Birth | 11 August 1896 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 22 |
| Date of Death | 21 October 1918 |
| Service Number | 243272 |
| Military Service | 5th Battalion East Kent Regiment |
| Merton Address | 91 Amity Grove, Raynes Park |
| Local Memorial | Raynes Park Methodist Church |
Additional Information
The eldest of four children, William Beavor was born in Wimbledon during the summer of 1896. This was still an age of horse-drawn transport and William’s father, Joseph, was a Farrier, responsible for shoeing horses. His mother was a housewife. As a young child William lived at the Forge in Kingston Vale, however by 1911 the Beavor family had relocated to 91 Amity Grove, Raynes Park.
After leaving school William became an apprentice silversmith. Following the outbreak of war he became a Private in the 5th Battalion, East Kent Regiment, also known as the Buffs. On 7 January 1917, William married Alice Povey – he was 21 years of age and his new bride was 26.
During the war, William served in Bangalore, India. It was here in 1918 that he developed influenza and sadly died on 21 October, just three weeks before the war ended. William was buried at Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India. He is commemorated on the war memorial at Raynes Park Methodist Church.