Private William George Courtnell
| Date of Birth | c. 1896 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 19 |
| Date of Death | 26 September 1915 |
| Service Number | 2172 |
| Military Service | 9th Battalion East Surrey Regiment |
| Merton Address | 6 Tamworth lane |
| Local Memorial | St. Mark's Church, Mitcham |
Additional Information
William was born in late 1896 or early 1897 and baptised at St Peter and St Paul Parish Church, Mitcham on 24 July 1897.
His parents were John and Jane Courtnell. When William was baptised John gave his profession as Basket maker but by the 1901 census he was a Labourer at the Chemical Works.
William had an older brother, John, and younger siblings Charles, Jane and Frederick.
In 1901 the family were living at 14 Smiths Buildings, Commonside East, Mitcham but by the 1911 census, they were living at 6 Tamworth Lane, Mitcham and William had left school and become a Van Boy.
He enlisted at Wimbledon on 12 September 1914 and gave his age as 19 and his occupation as Labourer. He had fair hair and grey eyes, was 5 ft 6 ins tall and weighed 115lbs.
He joined the 9th Battalion of the East Surrey Regiment as a Private and was killed in action on 26 September 1915. He is commemorated on the Loos memorial and in St Mark’s Church, Mitcham.