HERAPATH, William James [of Cotgrave]
L/Cpl 3253 1/8th Sherwood Foresters
Born 1898, Died 14th October 1915, aged 17.
William James Herapath was born in Kensington, Middlesex, in 1898, the youngest child of James and Rebecca Herapath (nee Malin). James was a printer/compositor, the family living at 44 Acklam Road, a house in multi-occupancy.
William's christening is recorded on 25th May 1898 in the parish registers of All Saints, Kensington.
In the 1901 census, James is recorded as still living at the London house (Acklam Road), whilst Rebecca and the children (2 girls and 2 boys) had moved up to Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire - her birthplace - to live with her parents at Mill Town End.
James died aged 40 in 1908, his death being recorded in the July-Sept quarter in the St.Pancras district (Vol.1b p.20)
The 1911 Census shows Rebecca, (still in Cotgrave although now on Main Street), as a Widower aged 47, working from home as a Sempstress. Her two eldest children, the girls, are no longer resident, leaving just the two boys - Frederick and William - aged 15 and 12 respectively, still at home.
[For information on Frederick Herapath, click HERE]
In the 1911 census William's age is given as 12 and he is still at school. After leaving school he worked as an Under Gardener for John James esq. at Cotgrave Place in Cotgrave).
Enlists in the Territorials
On 19th May 1913 William enlisted at Cotgrave in the Territorial unit of the 8th Sherwood Foresters. On his attestation papers his age is first written (correctly) as 15, but then overwritten as 17.
1822 Private W.J. Herapath passed his medical examination at Netherfield on the same day (19th May 1913) and began service training at Thoresby in Nottinghamshire on 27th July 1913. He completed this training on 10th August 1913, before being sent to Hunmanby where he trained futher between 26th July 1914 and 3rd August 1914.
He was Embodied for service with the Territorials on 5th August 1914, but was discharged as unfit on 1st October 1914 with a rupture.
Re-enlistment and active service
On 19th November 1914 William Herapath re-enlisted at Newark for the duration of the war in the 2/8th Sherwood Foresters Territorials. His new service number was 3253.
With previous military service he was quickly promoted, becoming Lance Corporal on 8th December 1914.
On 28th June 1915 he embarked at Southampton, landing at Rouen a day later. He joined his unit on 22nd August 1915.
Early in October 1915 he was treated in the field for scabies, and was killed in action during the Battle of Loos on 14th October 1914.
At the time of his death he was serving with the 1/8th Sherwood Foresters.
L/Cpl 3253 William James Herapath is recorded as having served 221 days. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial (panels 87 - 89) where his age is given as 17.
In July 1919 his mother, Rebecca, received his medals - the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
He is commemorated on the war memorial in Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire.
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