Huffer, William Herbert

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Huffer, William Herbert

Military History:

Regiment:
Cavalry, Corps of Hussars

Rank:
Private

Regimental Number:
305413

Date of Enlisting:
30.12.1912

Date of death:
4.7.1949

Cemetery/ Memorial:            

UK Cemetery/Memorial:
St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour

William enlisted with the 1st Bedfordshire Regiment, Regimental Number 4/6757, on 12th December 1912.  He transferred to the Suffolk Yeomanry, Regimental Number 2963, and was sent to the Western Front, France and Flanders on 12th November 1914 where he saw active service at the Battles of Neuve Chapelle and Hill 60.  He sustained a broken leg and severe burns through the explosion of a mine on 30th November 1915 and spent a number of months in a hospital in Rouen.  On 21st December 1915 he was then sent to a hospital in Manchester to recover.  He transferred again to the Corps of Hussars, Regimental Number 305413 and on 15th August 1917 was discharged as unfit for further military service.

William survived the War and died at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 4th July 1949.

He was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and then Silver War Badge.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Family History:

Date of Birth:                1st quarter 1896

Birth Place:                   Marylebone, London

Residence:                    Ashwell, Hertfordshire

Marriage:                      2nd quarter 1920

William was born at Marylebone, London in the 1st quarter 1896, the eldest son of William and Elizabeth (nee Kirbyshire) Huffer. The family moved to Ashwell when William was about ten so he would have been a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School in Ashwell.  The 1939 census shows him a builder’s labourer living in Ashwell, Hertfordshire.

William married Daisy E Bell in 2nd quarter 1920 at Stockton, Durham. They had four children born in Sedgefield, Durham: William H born 1921, James born 1923 (died 1923), Wilfred born 1924 (died 1928 at Ashwell), and one daughter Elizabeth Ann born at Ashwell in 1927.

William died at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 4th July 1949.

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