William Pettigrew Waller was born on 13th September 1897 and was the only son of Walter and Mary Waller. In 1911, the family were living at 139 Cambridge Road, Seven Kings. After attending Downshall School in Seven Kings, William completed his education at Clark’s College and St. George College, after which he was subsequently appointed to the Civil service. William was an active member of the Seven Kings United Methodist Church and of the Young Men’s Bible Class that was held there.
William enlisted with the 14th Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish) in 1916. He was killed when his battalion was involved in the attack of the heavily defended village of Fromelles during the Somme Offensive on Saturday 28th October 1916. William’s body was recovered from the battlefield and was buried in Lavente Military Cemetery in La Gorgue, France.
Research by Redbridge Museum, with thanks to Patrick O’Mara
Sources:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Ancestry.com
Ilford Recorder, 24th November 1916
Reproduced from Homage: A Record of Our Heroes (a commemorative booklet produced by Seven Kings United Methodist Church c.1920)
Born 13th September 1897
Killed in action at Laventie, Saturday, 28th October 1916
Every one of our departed lads has a place of his own in our memory, and no loss has been more keenly felt among us than that of Will Waller. Among the young people there was no more familiar figure in our Church, and no lad was more keenly interested in all its activities. Will was the light of his home and the joy of his friends. Death could not quench a nature so ardent, so enthusiastic, and so chivalrous. He is still carrying, on, under that Great Captain whom he learnt to love here. Will was educated at Downshall, Clark's College, and St. George's College. He entered the Civil Service, where he was an assistant clerk in the Engineer's Office at the G.P.O. He enlisted in May 1916, in the London Scottish, and after four months' training went to France. Will’s ordeal there was brief, for he fell in action a few weeks later.