11454 Private William Frederick Best
9th(Service)Battalion
Devonshire Regiment
1st July 1916
Born on 23/05/1894 in Ealing London. He was baptised on 09/09/1894.
His parents were
Philip Henry Best (25/02/1856-26/07/1940) and
Marion Alice Gunston(03/07/1859-23/09/1956).
They married on 31/05/1878.
William had 3 brothers; Frank(06/01/1881-14/02/1938),
Herbert(24/03/1885-06/02/1951)
and Philip James(03/11/1891-1961).
He also had a sister, Elsie Amy Marion(04/08/1889-30/10/1968).
In the 1901 census the family were recorded as living at
76 Haven Lane Ealing London. Philip was employed as a joiner.
In the 1911 census, it showed that the family had moved to 47 Grove Avenue, Hanwell , London. Philip was now a builder and William was employed as a railway clerk.
He enlisted in London and his date of disembarkation into France was on 27/07/1915.
He was killed in action on 01/07/1916.
William was awarded the 1914-1915 Star,
the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
In his will,read on 13/09/1916 he left effects worth £107(worth today £10,813.68).
William is remembered on a plaque for Great Central Railway London and District staff who lost their lives in WW1. It was unveiled on 16/04/2015.