12684 Private William French
9th(Service)Battalion
Devonshire Regiment
1st July 1916
Born in Bridgwater, Somerset in 1884. He was baptised on 30/11/1884.
His parents were Samuel French(1859-1928) and
Sarah Ann Dennish(1861-1940). They were married in 1880.
William had 2 brothers; George(1886-1949) and Reginald(born on 03/09/1894).
He also had 4 sisters; Louisa(1885-1929),
Eva(1888-1965),Annie(born in 1889) and
Selina(1892-1969).
In the 1891 census,the family were recorded as living in the village of Stringston,Somerset. Samuel was an agricultural labourer.
In the 1901 census, the family were recorded as living in the village of Doddington. Samuel was now a carter on a farm and William was a domestic gardener.
By 1911 William had moved to Wales and was living on The House farm in Michaelstone Le Pit Cardiff, whilst working as a waggoner on the farm.
He enlisted in Barry, Glamorgan and his date of disembarkation into France was 14/09/1915.
He was killed in action on 01/07/1916.
He was awarded the 191455-1915 Star,the 1914-1918 British War and Allied Victory medals