William James PRESTON
- Extended Description
- William James PRESTON 1895 - 1915.
He was Rifleman B/2448, D Company, 8th Rifle Brigade, died 30th July 1915 aged 25. He was the son of Mrs Angelina Preston of 7, Victoria Avenue, Glovers Road, Small Heath, Birmingham. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Some notes from what remains of his very badly, fire and water damaged army record.
He enlisted on the 31st August 1914 at Birmingham aged 23 years and 202 days (The age system was in use when I enlisted in 1966) and on the 1st September 1914 was posted to Winchester where he joined the Rifle Brigade Training Depot. He embarked on the 20th May 1915 for France/Belgium and was killed in action on the 30th July 1915. This memorial is part of the Memory Tree at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.
The tree has since been removed.
