Gunner William Frederick Govier

Rank or Title

Date of Birth

1888

Date of Death

21 Mar 1918

War time / or Pre War occupation

Painter

Employer

Coachbuilder Henry Squires, Chobham Street

Service Number

119496

Place of Birth

Hendon
United Kingdom

World War I Address

122 Baker Street
Luton
United Kingdom

Place of Death

Belgium

Grave Location

Talana Farm Cemetery
Belgium

War Memorial Location

Soldier or Civilian

  • Soldier

Source

Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph , 27th April 1918
Gunner William Frederick Govier

Gunner William Frederick Govier, 119496, 186th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, was killed on March 21st, 1918, when a shell exploded outside the battlefield cookhouse where he and a companion were on duty. His unnamed companion was also killed.

Church of England Chaplain the Rev H. A. Norton in a letter to Mrs Mabel Govier, at 122 Baker Street, Luton, said pieces of the shell had pierced the iron sheeting which formed the wall of the cookhouse and struck the two men inside.

At the time of the 1911 Census, William was living with his widower father George in Hendon, Middlesex. His mother, Agnes, had died in 1905.

By 1913 he was living in Luton and married Mabel Gertrude Squires at St Paul's Church on April 5th. By the time William joined the R.G.A. in September 1916 they had two children - Mabel Elizabeth and William George. Tragically, a third child (James Frederick), born after William's own death, died in May 1918 when only a month old.

William had been employed as a painter by coachbuilder Henry Squires, Mabel's brother, of 54 Chobham Street. Mabel's father William, of 19 Albert Road, Luton, was also a coachbuilder.

Individual Location

Gunner William Frederick Govier

Author: Deejaya

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