Private William George Bagust

William was born in Brixton in 1893, he was the third child of Annie Baugh and Alfred Bagust, his parents had met and married on the 25th of July 1881 at St Paul’s church in Herne Hill. His 31-year-old father Alfred was employed as a porter at the time of his marriage.

The 1901 Census reveals that the Annie and Alfred Bagust resided at 11 Calder’s Row in Streatham with their 5 children and 17-year-old nephew William. Alfred was now employed as a stableman and groom.

According to the 1911 Census, 14-year-old William had begun employment as a milk boy for a dairy company. The Bagust family continued to live at 11 Calder’s Row at Brixton Hill in Streatham. Annie and Alfred had been married for 30 years and the couple had 7 children, with one child dying in infancy. Alfred was now employed as a housekeeper.

William still lived with his family when he married 23-year-old Rosa Wells on May the 16th of 1915 at Christ Church in Streatham.

The 1915 Electoral Register confirms that William resided at 38 Huron Road after his marriage.

The Bagust family received the sad news that William’s younger brother Harold who was serving as a private with the London Regiment was killed in action in Belgium on the 6th of September 1917.

William’s older brother, Frederick John married Sarah Harris on the 29th of 0ctober 1917 at Christ Church in Barnet.

Rosa and William’s only child William Arthur John was born on the 22nd of December 1917 at Lambeth. The couple resided at 10 Forrens Road in Brixton.

Twenty-three-year-old William enlisted in the army at Camberwell on the 11th 0f November 1918. At the time of enlistment. William was 5ft 7 inches tall. William contracted influenza shortly after he enlisted on the 26th of November 1918, he developed pneumonia and died from the disease at 15.30 hours on the 28th 0f November 1918 at the Royal Herbert Hospital in Woolwich.

William’s widow Rosa was awarded a pension of 20 shillings per week to bring up their son from the 2nd of June 1919.