Thank you to Jane Anthony for this research
Born at Chipstead in about 1879, the son of Thomas, a farm labourer, and his wife Sarah. In 1901 he was working on a farm as a teamster and was still living at his parent’s home in Mugswell.
In 1910 he married Ethel Marry Potter, who came from Dorking. At the time of the 1911 census they were living in Mill Lane with 4 children whose ages ranged from 11 to 3 months. The three oldest children had the surname Potter, but were described as being sons or daughters of the head of the household (William Waite). The youngest child did have the surname Waite. Ethel or Ellen was probably the daughter of an agricultural labourer living at Laurel Cottage Holmwood, she does not appear to have been married before.
He enlisted in the 2nd Battalion at Croydon and was killed at Festubert on 16 May 1915 and commemorated at the Le Touret Memorial. Although Festubert is not one of the main battles in the war the 2nd Battalion of the Queens Own Regiment was heavily involved and therefore there is a high attrition rate amongst men from Surrey and the Dorking area. Over 16,000 men were killed between 15 and 27th May 1915.
PTE. W. H. WAITE
(Killed in action)
We regret to state that Pte. William Henry Waite of the 2nd Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment was killed in action on May 16th. Deceased belonged to the first class National Reserve, and he had been in France since last year, having participated in many great battles. He fell in the severe fighting at Lens. Pte. Waite went through the Boer War. He was greatly respected by his numerous friends at Dorking and his death will be received with much regret by the members of the Men’s Own Society, of which deceased was a member. General sympathy is felt for the widow and her five children who reside at 13, Ansell Road.
William Waite Death Notice © Dorking Advertiser Local World Limited
| Born | Chipstead, Surrey | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | The late Thomas and Sarah Waite | |
| Husband of | Ethel Mary Waite of 13 Ansell Road, London | |
| Regiment | 2nd Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) | |
| Number | S/129 | |
| Date of Death | 16th May 1915 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 36 | |
| Memorial | Le Touret Memorial |
