William Walter Brant. Died 20 May 1915
William was born in Wokingham in the winter of 1896 to George and Harriet Brant, the youngest of 7 siblings. His father George was a self-employed carpenter and in 1901 the family lived at 2 Model Cottages, Seaford Road, Wokingham.
By 1911, George had died and the family still lived in Seaford Road, but only William and 2 older siblings were living at home. William worked as an errand boy for a greengrocer’s shop.
William joined the King’s Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment in Wokingham (number 16512). We do not know about his army service, but he died of spotted fever in Plymouth; presumably at the military hospital on 20th May 1915. He was aged 19. His death is a little strange. Spotted fever (from the attached photo) comes from animal ticks and whilst it is an occasional killer in the UK, it is mainly to be found in hotter countries around the Mediterranean. As William died as early in the war as May 1915, it is probable he picked up the illness whilst on his induction training in Plymouth. The Kings Own Museum describes the 10th Battalion as a’Draft training unit based in Saltash, Kingsbridge and Swanage during the war’. It seems that William never moved on from this training battalion.
Regiment/Service: King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) 10th Bn.
Rank: Private
Service No: 16512
Date of Death: 20/05/1915
Age: 19
Grave Reference: Con. C. 3500.
Cemetery: PLYMOUTH (WESTON MILL) CEMETERY Historical Information:During the First World War, Plymouth, Devonport and Stonehouse contained between them the Royal Dockyard, Royal Naval Barracks (known as H.M.S. Vivid), the Royal Marine Barracks of the Plymouth Division, and naval and military hospitals. For the duration of the war, Devonport was made headquarters of the Auxiliary Patrol Area.
Son of Harriett Brant. 20 Seaford Rd Wokingham Berks.
2 Model Cottages, Seaford Road.