PRIVATE WILLIAM RINGROW
Killed in action 14th July 1916
No.14797 of the Leicester Regiment, 9th Batt.
Born Alconbury
Resided Woburn Sands / Werfbridge House, Ellington
The Ringrow family came from Alconbury, Hunts, where their father Henry had run Weybridge Farm. His wife had died in 1900. The 500+ acre farm was put up for sale, with adverts for a July sale starting in June 1915, but Henry died before the end of June, before the sale could even take place.
Of his 12 children, William was the second youngest, born in 1887. He attended Huntingdon Grammar School and by the time of the 1911 Census, he was a draper’s assistant in Stamford. He had enlisted by 1915, the same year that his brother, Private Frank Ringrow, was killed at Gallipoli on 8th August. Frank was also listed as a resident of Woburn Sands, despite having left England for New Zealand in 1913 and therefore fighting with the ANZACS in the Wellington Regiment.
William’s military records have not survived, but his Medal card tells us he entered the war in 1915 with the 9th Leicester Regt. On 14th July 1916, they were attacking Bazentin Ridge from Mametz Wood in the First Battle of the Somme and took heavy causalities, including all Company officers. In this engagement, 56 Other Ranks were killed, ten died of wounds, 310 were wounded and 39 reported missing. Five Officers were killed (one being their Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. J. G. Mignon) and 12 others wounded.
When Probate for William Ringrow was granted, it listed him as of Werfbridge House, Ellington, Huntingdonshire. He left £618 to his sister Frances.
At least four or five of the Ringrow siblings had come to live in Woburn Sands during the War years, firstly at Westburyleigh (no.58 Station Road) and later in Hardwick Road. Frances, Annie, Frederick and Gerald all appear in the Register of Electors in 1920 under Hardwick Road. Gerald and Frederick served with the Machine Gun Corp. Their deceased brother Frank’s place of residence on his Probate is also given as Woburn Sands. When names for the Woburn Sands Memorial were gathered, I wonder why they submitted William’s, but not Frank’s?
Private William Ringrow appears on the Woburn Sands Memorial and Thiepval Memorial to those with no known grave.
In 1920, his sister Annie, a Nurse, died in Woburn Sands, possibly from the ‘Flu epidemic. She was buried back in Alconbury on 9th November 1920, but according to the burial register there, was still living at Hardwick Road. Aspley Heath. She left £800 to her sister Frances. By the time of the 1921 census, the Ringrow family had all moved away from Woburn Sands, so they were only here for five or so years.
I am very grateful for the kind assistance of Malcolm Wayland in confirming William’s identity.
Page last updated May 2022.