Name

William George Selby.

Description

Belfast Telegraph Newspaper Photograph of Private William George Selby.

Life Story

Name: William George Selby.

Service Number:

Rank: Private.

Battalion: 2nd Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Sussex Regiment.

Born: 1888, Cuckfield, West Sussex, England.

Died: 30th October 1914.

Address: 45 Sixth Street, Belfast

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William George Selby, son of Henry and Susan Selby, lived with his wife at 45 Sixth Street, Shankill Road, Belfast

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William had married Sarah Selby, Nee Scott, on the 9th July 1911 within St Annes Church, Belfast.

They went on to have three children, their names and dates of births are as follows: Twins William George Selby born 3.20 pm on the 27th of February 1912, and Sarah Selby born 3.40pm 27th February 1912, Mary Jane born 16thj July 1913.

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The 1891 England Census has William living at 11 Brook Street, Cuckfield, Sussex, England with his mother, father, two sisters, Edith, Ellen and brother Charles

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The 1901 England Census has William living at 36 Brook Street, Cuckfield, Sussex, England with his mother, father, occupation, Brick Layers Labourer, and four brothers, Arthur, 8 years, Claude, 5 years, Percy, 4 years, and Sidney, 1 year

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William joined the Royal Sussex Regiment on the 26th of October 1905.

He was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France on the 31st August 1914.

William was a Private in 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment when he was Killed In Action on the 30th October 1914 in France aged 26 years

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The Mid Sussex Times.

The above newspaper carried a letter William had sent to his mother in England.

ROYAL SUSSEX REGIMENT LIVING LIKE RABBITS.

CUCKFIELDIANS CHEERY LETTER.

In a letter to his mother, Mrs Selby, of Brook Street, Cuckfield, Private William George Selby of the Royal Sussex Regiment, describes how the regiment are living. He says he is still quite well, and adds, We are well off now for different things, everybody is sending things, and we receive with them the best wish to everybody from those who send them. We are having good weather here, but very cold at nights. However we have good clothes and we cannot grumble. One of our chaps receive The Mid Sussex Times out here, so I see all the little things that happen round the way. Young Knight is out here with me, and I hear that Albert Jennings is home on furlough, so I suppose he must have got wounded. We are like rabbits here, we dig holes in the bank, and come out to fry a piece of bacon, hear a bang and in we pop. In fact I think we are quicker than rabbits, for we dont prick our ears up first to see what noise it is. We are as sharp as razors. Save me a piece of Christmas Pudding.

This letter was printed in November, so sadly William had already been killed

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Another newspaper states.

Private W G Selby, 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, husband of Mrs Sara Selby, 45 Sixth Street, Belfast, killed in action at Ypres on 30th October

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Williams Soldiers Effects were left to his widow.

Dependant Pension Application Form shows his wife as claimant also.

These documents also show that Williams wife was remarried to a Joseph Barr on the 28th September 1918, and that his daughter Mary Jane had sadly died on the 25th April 1919 aged 6 years, with her stepfather at her side.

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William received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star

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He is Remembered at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

To Remember Is To Honour

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