Description
Queen’s South Africa, 5 bars, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, SA 1901, SA 1902, WW1 British War & Victory Medal, 3546 Private William Charles Warr, 1st King’s Dragoon Guards, later Royal Engineers in WW1, born in Madras, India.
QSA officially impressed: “3546 Pte W. Warr. 1st Dgn: Gds”
Pair officially impressed: “276355 Pnr W.C. Warr R.E.”
Medals polished through wearing, medals not mistreated just worn proudly, being the son of a Sergeant Major and lived a long life after the army.
“Mr Warr his son, who lives in Newark, once had this brought home to him very forcibly when speaking to one of his father’s military associates, who said: ‘Do you mean to say you are a son of Phil Warr, as we used to call the Boy of the Regiment. He was one who would not allow us to starve while he could get food.’ another favourite nickname they gave him in the army was The Daring Boy for if there was anything critical wanted doing he would always dare to do it, and would dare others to follow him.” The obituary of his father, the legend “Phil Warr”.
William Charles Warr, was born in Secunderabad, Madras, India on 23rd January 1875, being baptised on 7th April 1875 in George Town known at the time as “Black Town”, now part of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
His father, Wiliam Phillip Warr was a serving Sergeant in the 16th Lancers at the time, and his wife Mary Jane.
As soon as his father ended his service he settled back in England in Newark Upon Trent, where William would spent most of his life, in 1881 he was in Newark his father noted as “Yeomanry Sergeant Major”.
His father was a local legend in Newark, and grew up in the Dragoon Guards, where he was noted was as somewhat of a legend amongst his fellow soldiers. He joined up at 14 and served as a drummer boy, rising to Sergeant Major, he was extremely brave and a stellar rough rider, he was wounded once by a lance whilst serving in China 1860 war.
Naturally, like his father, the moment he turned 18 he enlisted into the Army, signing on at Windsor for the 1st King’s Dragoon Guards on 4th February 1893, barely 18 years old having been a “Page”, this was his fathers old regiment.
He saw the following postings over his 12 year career:
Home, 27th January 1893 – 7th Jan 1901
South Africa, 8th Jan 1901 – 17th August 1902, Active Service during Boer War
Home, 18th Aug 1902 – 27th Dec 1902
Army Reserve, 28th Dec 1902 – 26th Jan 1904.
In 1907 he joined the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants Union as a Horse Driver for Newark Nottingham Railways.
Where he lived with his Wife Eliza and Children, working as a Railway Horse Shunter.
With the outbreak of World War 1, he wasted no time in reenlisting.
He first signed on, now 39 years old with his old unit the 1st Dragoon Guards on 2nd September 1914 in Newark.
Posted to the 4th Reserve Regiment of Dragoons on 2nd Feb 1917.
Transferred to the Royal Engineers, 26th March 1917.
Posted as a Pioneer with the R.E.
Given his years with the Railways, he seems to have joined the Royal Engineers Railway Division.
He embarked for France on 17th May 1917 and served there until the end of the war returning back on 21st Feb 1919.
Returning home to Newark upon Trent, he returned to the Railways, working for Drayman Midland Railway Co.
Still alive and living in Newark by 1939, he was working as a Railway Porter with his wife and son.
He died in Newark during 1954.
