Thank you to Lenka Cathersides for the following research.
William George Moore was born on 24th June 1898 in Holmwood, Surrey to labourer James and Alice (nee Rapley). He was baptised on 21st August 1898 in Holmwood.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 4 Boarded Cottages, Dorking Rural. James was working as a general labourer and Alice was at home looking after their children: Minnie, Edith, Rose, Alice Eveline and William. The household further comprised of Alice’s daughter, housemaid, Kate Rapley.
On 7th March 1904 William was admitted into South Holmwood Church of England School. At the time of his admission the family lived at Redlands Bank Cottages. He left the school on 24th June 1912.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at Redlands Bank Cottages, South Holmwood. James was working as a wood cutter and Alice was looking after their children: Alice, William George and Arthur. Alice stated that during her present marriage she had given birth to eight children of whom seven were still alive. The accommodation had four rooms.
William Moore enlisted in Dorking into the Essex Regiment. He was a Private with regimental number 23525. At the time of his enlistment he resided in Holmwood. Later he was transferred into the 1st Battalion the South Staffordshire Regiment. He remained a Private and his new regimental number was: 40743.
William George Moore died of wounds on 3rd October 1917 in Belgium.
He is buried at the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium.
The headstone bears the inscription: ‘In God’s Keeping’.
William’s mother Alice received £2, 8s and 8 d on 14th December 1917 and a further £3 on 19th November 1919 in Soldier’s Effects.
Moore Family History
William’s father James was born in the 4th quarter of 1857 in Ockley, Surrey to labourer William, born about 1827 in Abinger, Surrey and Mary, born about 1831 in Warnham, Sussex. His mother Alice was born in the 1st quarter of 1855 in Ockley to labourer James and nurse Caroline, born about 1830 in Ockley. Alice was baptised on 1st April 1855 in Ockley. James and Alice married on 25th December 1885 at St Mary’s church in Holmwood. At the time of their marriage the couple lived in Holmwood and James was working as a labourer. William had a half-sister called Kate Rapley. She was born about 1879 in Holmwood, Surrey to Alice.
William had seven siblings of whom six are known: Minnie born about 1887; Lily born about 1887; Edith E. born about 1889; Rose born about 1891 Alice Eveline born about 1896, all in Holmwood and Arthur George Moore born about 1911.
At the time of the 1891 Census, the family lived at Boarded Cottages, South Holmwood, Surrey. James was working as an agricultural labourer and Alice was looking after their children: Minnie, Lily, Edith and Rose. The household further comprised of Alice’s daughter Kate Rapley.
| Born | Holmwood, Surrey | |
| Lived | Holmwood, Surrey | |
| Son of | James and Alice (nee Rapley) Moore of Holmwood | |
| Regiment | 1st Battalion. South Staffordshire Regiment | |
| Number | 40743 | |
| Former Regiment | Essex Regiment. 23525 | |
| Date of Death | 3rd October 1917 | |
| Place of Death | Belgium | |
| Cause of Death | Died of wounds | |
| Age | 19 | |
| Cemetery | Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium |
