Private William Shirvell
| Date of Birth | c. 1888 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 30 |
| Date of Death | 15/04/1917 |
| Service Number | 2588 |
| Military Service | Army Cyclist Corps |
| Merton Address | |
| Local Memorial | Streatham Park Cemetery |
Additional Information
William was the third son of James and Harriet Shirvell and lived alongside three siblings in the 1891 census where he was recorded to be 4 years old. He was born in Lambeth, London, Surrey, England and lived at 65 Barrington Square.
A WW1 Pension Records document from 1908 when William was 20 years old shows him to be in the Royal Fusiliers 2nd Battalion.
The 1911 census shows that William was in the 2nd Battalion- The Royal Fusiliers in India and the census also shows that he was in a household of around 24 other young men of a similar age. Another source says that this Battalion was in Calcutta, India when WW1 broke out
When war broke out, William’s Battalion returned to Europe and he transferred to the Army Cyclists Corps. His records show that he was 5ft 3ins tall, weighed 113lbs, was fresh faced with blue eyes and brown hair. He suffered from rheumatic fever when he was 17 and this had left him with a number of health issues, including epilepsy, deafness and shortness of breath.
He was discharged from the army on 21 February 1916. The records show the reason for discharge was his epilepsy but they also show a weakness in his heart which made him unfit for active service.
William returned to the family home in Blackfriars and died the following year on 15 April. He is buried in Streatham Park Cemetery.