Private William Bavister

Pte William Bavister, 18577, 1st Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment died on August 3rd, 1916, in the London General Hospital from wounds sustained on the Somme. He had been in France for around 12 months.

Born in late 1892, he lived most of his life in Westoning, where in 1911 he was a farm labourer living with parents William and Mary (their youngest son) and older sister Ada. The couple had had 10 children of whom only four were still living in 1911.

William is included on the Luton Roll of Honour with an address at 121 Cambridge Street, Luton. As there appears to be no report of his death in Luton newspapers, the only other clue to his connection with the town was that among the mourners listed at his funeral was his former employer Mr G. Cartwright. From street directories that suggests he worked for dairyman Mr George Cartwright, of 185 Dunstable Road, Luton, perhaps as a milkman.

Pte Bavister's death and subsequent funeral on August 8th were reported in the Beds Times of August 11th, 1916. It was a family rather than military funeral, although his coffin was draped in a Union flag. The service was conducted at St Mary Magdalene Church, Westoning, by the Vicar, the Rev C. J. J. McCormick, and followed by interment in the churchyard. He is commemorated also on the Westoning Roll of Honour.