William Flood

Life before the war
William Flood was the eldest child of David and Emily V, nee Weaver.  His year of birth differs on the census records in that the 1891 census shows his year of birth as 1890 whilst both the 1901 and 1911 transcripts record the year as 1889.  David was born in 1870, the same year as his wife.  Emily was born in Lewes, Sussex.

In the census of 1891 the family were living at 10 John Street, St Mary’s Southampton.  David was working as a Slater.

In both the 1901 and 1911 censuses the family were living at 4 Kent Terrace, Kent Road, Portswood, Southampton.  David is still working as a Slater, though by 1911 it is his own business.  In this year William was employed as a Beer Bottling Man, while David junior is a Tram Conductor.  David and Emily state on the census that they have been married for 23 years, their wedding would therefore have taken place about 1888. They were a large family as David and Emily had 9 children at this time; William’s siblings – 5 sisters and 3 brothers – were:

David aged 21
Emily aged 18
Gertrude aged 16
Ivy aged 14
Edward aged 11
Nellie aged 8
Doris aged 4
Albert aged 1

William married his wife Florence May Annie, nee Daubney, in December 1914.  Florence was born 1894 in Broughton, Hampshire.  Their daughter Doris was born in December 1915.

Brother David’s War Service
David attested on the 15^th May 1916 Dorset Regiment, 4^th (Reserve) Battalion, service number 29233.  He gave his residence as Hursley Villa, Newtown Road, Bitterne, Southampton.  Prior to enlisting, David’s occupation was a Motorman.  He gave his next of kin as his wife Hilda Daisy Baker who he married on 24^th September 1911 in Southampton.  They had a daughter, Doris Hilda, who was born on 12^th September 1912.  David was discharged on 21^st March 1918 as “no longer physically fit for war service”. He had been in hospital for 6 months with scabies.

Military Service
William enlisted on the 22nd April 1916 and served as a Private in the Duke of Cambridge Own Middlesex Regiment. Although his medical report showed he suffered from flat feet he was passed at fit to serve in the field at home or abroad.  Interestingly he named his father David as his next of kin and not his wife Florence.

William embarked from Southampton with his regiment on the 31st May 1917 and they landed at Le Havre the following day.  William was killed in action within 2 months of arriving, on the 27th July 1917.  He is buried in Monchy British Cemetery (photos below), Monchy-le-Preux. Grave reference I.D.18.  William was entitled to the British Service and Victory Medals.

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