THE short life of William Blatch read out by Burnt Mill Academy student Ben.

This project has been brought to you by Harlow Council Civic Fund and HTS Ltd.

We would also like to thank the Humanities Department of Burnt Mill Academy

Never Forget.

William’s parents were William Thomas Blatch who was christened in High Wych on 29 September 18671 and Isabella Wakelin, born in Leicester in c.1868. William and Isabella married in the summer of 18892. William Thomas Blatch was born in Harlow in 18933.

William’s father William Snr. died in 18984 at the age of 31. William Jnr.’s mother Isabella remarried to Henry Pavitt in 18995.

The 1901 census shows William residing in Netteswell Cross with his mother Isabella and step-father Henry. Henry was working as an agricultural labourer. The 1911 census recorded William still residing in Netteswell Cross with his mother Isabella and step-father Henry and half-siblings Dorothy and Harry.

Private William Thomas Blatch, 14358, enlisted in Bishops Stortford serving in the 7th Battalion of The Bedfordshire Regiment. William was killed in action on 7 September 1915 aged twenty-three. He is buried in Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France. Plot 1, row B, grave 6. Register Index Number Fr.188.

William’s mother Isabella was living at School House, Latton Street at the time of his death.