2/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment
William George Webb was born in Upton St Leonards in 1897 (he was baptised on 5 December of that year). His parents were John Webb (1876-1947), a labourer carving timber and his wife Anne Elizabeth (née Day: 1877-1961). The couple had four children, three boys and a girl and William was the third youngest.
At the time of the 1911 Census the Webb family lived at Upton Hill, Upton St Leonards and the census return notes that the couple had originally had six children but two had died. When that census was taken William was staying elsewhere at Upton Hill, with his grandfather and father. His occupation (age 14) was noted as ‘errand boy’
Very little documentary evidence of William’s Army career has survived. From what there is it can be gleaned from his Medal Rolls Index Card that his original number in the 2/5th Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment was 3883. From this we can deduce that he originally joined up in February 1915. The 2/5th Glosters was a Territorial Force (TF) unit and all men in TF units had their numbers changed into a six digit format in 1917 — William’s became 241270
He would have remained in the UK until after his 18th birthday and therefore would not have served abroad until 1916. No Army Service Record has survived, so his movements within the Army, any wounding or incidents of sickness are unknown. He does not appear to have been issued with a Silver War Badge, to denote discharge from service, so he possibly served for the duration of the war. However, a recently released Pension Record Car does indicate the presence of ill health, possibly attributable to military service. According to the card he was suffering from endocarditis (an infection affecting the inner lining of the lung) and also hemiplegia (paralysis of the muscles of the lower face and in the arm and leg down one side of the body — similar to the effects of a stroke).
Whether he died as a result of either or both of these conditions, or something else is not known (without sight of a death certificate). He died at home (Bond End, Upton St Leonards) on 25 June 1921, aged 23. His burial in the churchyard of St Lawrence, Upton St Leonards took place on 29 June 1921 and a standard CWGC headstone marks his grave.
His brother, G/74390 Private John Webb served with the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, latterly posted to the 22nd Battalion, London Regiment and died in France on 2 September 1918. He is buried in Combles Communal Cemetery Extension, in what was the Somme sector of operations.
Researched by Graham Adams 20 April 2020