William Fox was born around 1890. His parents, William Henry Fox and Sarah Catherall were married in St, Mathew’s Church in Buckley in 1886 and settled down in Buckley Mountain, Hawarden, where they were living on the 1891 census. Father, William Henry 29 was a bricklayer who had been born in Hawarden. His wife, Sarah 27 had been born in Mold, Flintshire. Their children were Arthur 4 and William . Both had been born in Hawarden.
The 1901 census records the parents in different locations on census night. Sarah 37, was at the family home in Liverpool Road, Buckley with the children and husband William Henry Fox was at 35, Sadler Street, Moss-side, Manchester. (St. James).William Henry 39 was still a bricklayer. Arthur 14 was working as a Bricklayer’s Apprentice, William was 11 and Bessie who was 6 months old had been born in Buckley.
On the 1911 census William 49, was recorded as a Builder. His wife of 25 years, Sarah was 47. They had 4 children all living. Arthur had left home. William 21 was an Ironworker. Bessie 10 and Catherine 6, were both at school. They were now living at New Street, Queensferry.
On the 1913/14 Bennett’s Directory Willim H. Fox was recorded as being a Builder, Contractor and Undertaker, Queensferry.
Arthur had married Nellie and on the 1911 census they were living at The Gables, Queensferry, with their new son George who was 6 months old.
William Married Ada Hughes in the August of 1915 – (Flintshire (Mold) C106/03/E446), she was the daughter of John Hughes, Post of Queensferry.
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms William’s Regimental details and tells us he was born in Buckley, resided in Chester and enlisted in Rhyl. His medal card ,also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medals and tells us his first Theatre of War was France and he entered it on 2nd December 1915.
There is an index card for William Fox in The Flintshire Roll of Honour in The County Record Office at Hawarden. (Flintshire WW1 Index Cards F5 Queensferry). It gives the address Carew House, Queensferry and the card was signed by Ada Fox.
William was listed in the Roll of Honour in The County Herald on the 7th April 1916
On the Souvenir booklet for the Opening Ceremony of the Queensferry War Memorial Institute, on Wednesday the 29th December 1920, there is a Subscription List of people who had contributed to the memorial fund and Mr. & Mrs. Fox gave £1.1s.0d . William’s Father W.H. Fox was a Trustee.
William is commemorated on a family grave in St. Deniol’s Churchyard, Hawarden –
William Fox 16 Bat. R.W.F. died of wounds 10 March 1916 buried in Bethune Cemetery, France age 26.
Greater Love hath no man than this
He was a pupil of Hawarden County School and William is remembered on the Hawarden County School Roll of Honour and the Roll of Honour in the Queensferry War Memorial Institute.
