Ashtead War Memorials - WWI - Pte Richard Ingram Horsfall Bill
1st Bn, Coldstream Guards

Richard’s grandfather, Charles Horsfall Bill, had served in the Army but, by 1861, he was retired at North College Mansion, Elgin, Moray, Scotland. Amongst the children from the union with his wife, Anna, was Robert William Bill born at Nigg, Ross-shire circa 1855.

In the 1881 Census Robert W Bill appears in London, lodging at 56 Coleshill Street, Knightsbridge with “No occupation”. He married [registered Louth 9/1884] Annie Cecilia Bulmer, who had been born in Sheffield around 1859, and they had two children whilst living in Lincolnshire: in 1891 Robert W Bill of Haugh described himself as a “Farmer and Magistrate”. The birth of Richard Ingram H Bill was, however, registered in Guildford, Surrey, for the September Quarter of 1894. The family had taken up residence in Kynsham, London Road, Windlesham and, in 1901, were “Living on own means”. By 1911 they had arrived in the Epsom area for Robert W Bill to be listed in Ashtead street directories for 1914-1918 at The Nest, Skinners Lane.

At the outbreak of WWI, Richard IH Bill, born Maybury, Surrey, enlisted at Ashtead - although Soldiers who died in the Great War indicates that he was at that time resident in Westminster.

Having been assigned to the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, he arrived in France, 8 December 1914, to join the 1st Division in the 'Brickstacks' area near Cuinchy on the La Bassée front. On 25 January 1915, the Germans launched a fierce attack on the 1st Division and Cuinchy during which engagement heavy losses were incurred by both sides. A report appeared in the New York Times the following day calling the event 'The second battle of La Bassée'. General Horne wrote of it later: - “We cannot fight nowadays without casualties on a large scale”. Richard was one of those killed in action who has no known grave but is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial.

The Medal Index Card for RIH Bill shows that he was awarded Victory & British medals together with a 1915 Star for his tragically short service. A note, “B.W.& V. M. retd. (1743 K.R.)”, indicates that that they had not been claimed and were required to be sent to the Deputy Director of ordnance stores, Royal Dockyard (Medal Branch), Woolwich, in order to be broken up.

The parents had in fact moved away after the War to attain advanced ages: “Annie Cecilia, dearly beloved wife of Robert William Bill” died at Thornleigh, Sunningdale, Berks, 1 July 1936, and “Robert William Bill, son of late Charles Horsfall Bill” at a Bournemouth Nursing Home, 7 November 1941.

Note: his name is inscribed on the Ashtead Memorial as RH Bill.

text: Brian Bouchard: if you can add to this page please contact the editor
page added 22 Mar 09