Oswald Jefferies 1880 - 1916
Oswald Jefferies
Whilst listed on the Welwyn Memorial as Oswald Jefferies, this man appears to have been born William Oswald Jefferys to William, a house painter and Sarah Jeffreys in Hertingfordbury in 1880. By the time of the 1901 Census he is being referred to Oswald William Jefferys, still living with his parents in Hertingfordbury and apprenticed as a boot maker. It is this trade which may have bought him to Welwyn to work for one of the Boot and Shoe Makers then operating
in the village. In 1911 he is working as a Gardener at Myrtle Hall (Welwyn Hall) for Riversdale Grenfell, father-in-law of another man named on the
memorial, Walter Stewart, and referring to himself as William Jefferys
In 1914 he married Elizabeth Binstead of Bengeo in Hertford, again referring to himself as William Oswald Jefferys.
He originally joined the Hertfordshire Regiment but at some point was transferred to the Somerset Light Infantry. In 1916 the 6th Battalion was involved in fighting on the Somme, in which Oswald was killed.
At the time of his death, William Oswald and Elizabeth were living in Mill Lane.
It is possible that Oswald appears on our Memorial as his name was put forward by his employer, Riversdale Grenfell. This could explain the misspelling of his surname
Oswald Jefferies is also commemorated on the Birch Green Memorial
Back to Oswald Jefferies
If you able to help with more information about
Oswald Jefferies please contact us
Roll over image to enlarge
Workers at one of Welwyn’s Boot Factories
