Dear, Arthur James - Arthur Dear was the son of James and Charlotte Dear, born in September 1897. By 1911 James was a Postman living in the High Street and it would seem that Arthur followed in his father’s footsteps as when he joined the 8th City of London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) in 1915 he gave his occupation as ‘Postman, Welwyn’. Arthur’s younger brother Frederick (below) served in the same battalion and his eldest brother William Bertie (below) served in the ASC.He served on the Western Front but in July 1917 was severely wounded at Ypres and invalided home. He was discharged in December 1917 as unfit for further military service. In 1920 he married Edith Bennett, sister of Herbert and William (above) and Ernest Bennett who died at the Somme in 1916.
Dear, Frederick - Frederick Dear was the younger brother, by one year, of Arthur Dear (above) and was also a Postman when he joined the 8th Battalion City of London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) in 1916, although he was later transferred to the Rifle Brigade. He served in France, where he suffered an accident in 1918 resulting in an injury to his right knee, after which he was returned to England and transferred to the Reserves. He was demobilised in February 1919. His eldest brother William Bertie (below) served in the ASC.
Dear, William Bertie - Bertie Dear was the eldest son of James and Charlotte Dear and brother to Arthur and Frederick (above). By 1911 he had left the family home in the High Street and moved a short way to work as a servant at Guessens in the Codicote Road. In September 1914 he volunteered to serve in the Lancers but in January 1915 was discharged as unlikely to become an efficient soldier due to poor eyesight. By 1917 he was married and had moved to work as a Butler in Sussex, when he was accepted as a Lorry Driver in the Army Service Corps. In September 1917 his company travelled overland from Le Havre to Marseille where they embarked upon a troop ship bound for Alexandria. Bertie spent the rest of his war serving in Egypt. He left for home and demobilisation from Port Said in June 1919.
Dodd, John Albert - John Dodd was the brother of Frederick Dodd, who died as result of his service in 1916. They were the sons of John Dodd, Headmaster of the National School and his wife Agnes. John Albert had been born in 1888 in Staffordshire and came to Welwyn with his parents on his father’s appointment in 1897. His mother died shortly after arriving in Welwyn. John Albert became a teacher at a Devon boarding school before the war. He served as a Captain in the 7th Cyclist Battalion.
Dovey, William - William Dovey was born in York Town, Surrey in 1887, but moved to Welwyn with his widowed mother Elizabeth. He worked as a gardener at Welwyn Hall in the employ of Riversdale Grenfell (father-in-law of Walter Stewart named on the war memorial) where in 1911 he was living with Oswald William Jefferies who was killed in action on the Somme in 1916. William Dovey served in the Bedfordshire Regiment and was wounded in the left hand and knee in January 1917. He survived the war and in 1925 married Frances Young, sister of Francis Young in Welwyn. He died in 1964.
Down, Thomas Hutin - Thomas Down was born in Oxfordshire in 1888 and made his living as a gardener, working at many of the houses across the South. In 1915 he married Margaret Wooton at Radlett, and shortly afterwards moved to work on the Danesbury estate. In 1916 he joined the Royal Garrison Artillery. He served in France from early 1917. He died in Margate in 1977.
Eayrs, Horace Nathaniel - Horace Eayrs lived with his father John, a tailor, and mother Sarah in Mill Lane. Born in 1894 in Luton, Horace also woprked as a tailor. He served in the Royal Army Medical Corps. Horace died in Northampton in 1968.
Elliot, Harry Abel - Born in Hertford in 1880, Harry was a farm labourer. In 1902 he married Miriam Titmus in Welwyn Parish Church and they lived in various places around the area including Datchworth, Tewin and Mill Lane. Harry was called up to the Inland Waters Transport section of the Royal Engineers in March 1918. He served in France before being returned to England in April 1919 for demobilisation.
Emerson, Albert Henry - Albert Emerson lived and presumably worked on the Danesbury Estate. He served in the 667th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps.
Ephgrave, Percy John - Groom and Gardener Percy was born on the 26th September 1893 in Digswell Water and was living in Mimram Road with his wife Sarah and daughter Margaret when he joined the Royal Field Artillery in November 1915. In January 1917 he was sent to Salonika, shortly after the birth of his son Thomas. He served in the Middle East until March 1919 before being sent home and demobilised in December 1919.
Evans, Alfred Dudley - Alfred Evans was a 21 year old Bank Clerk living in Church Street when he enlisted in December 1915. He joined the 15th(Co.of London) Battalion, The London Regiment and was serving in France by August 1916. He was wounded on the Somme in October 1916 and sent back to England. He was discharged as longer fit for service in 1917. He married Henrietta Marshal in 1938 and died at his home in Digswell on Christmas Day 1957.
Farr, Frederick George
Farr, Francis William - These brothers were the sons of Frederick Farr and his wife Lily. Frederick was a coachman and had worked in houses all over the South of England. In 1911 the family lived at Digswell Rectory but later moved to Whitehill Cottages, where Frederick possibly worked at The Frythe. Frederick junior served in the Royal Field Artillery, whilst Francis served in 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
