William Henry Stretton was born on 11 November 1888 in Highgate, Middlesex (now Greater London), the third of the four children of George Stretton (1861-1939) and Emma Eliza Stretton née Duell (1862-1941). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1888 in the Pancras Registration District, Middlesex.
On 7 December 1896 he was admitted into the Mantua Street School, Wandsworth, London, having spent the previous three and a half years at the Acton Lane School. The school registers show that his family were living at 95 Falcon Road, Battersea, London. He left the school on 26 November 1902.
He was shown on the census that was undertaken on 31 March 1901 as aged 12 years, still living in the three roomed property at 95 Falcon Road, Battersea, with his parents and his three siblings: Herbert George Stretton (1885-1975) - a railway clerk; Lilian Dorothy Stretton (1887-1979) and Arthur John Stretton (1896-1974), together with a cousin George Edwin Appleyard. His father was described as a wharf clerk - coal trade.
In January 1908 he was appointed as an assistant postman in Battersea and promoted to postman on 21 August 1909.
When his father completed his census return form on 2 April 1911 he was described as aged 22 years and a postman, living in a six roomed property at 46 Castle Street, Battersea, with his parents and his three siblings: Herbert George Stretton - who was still a railway clerk; Lilian Dorothy Stretton - a religious society's clerk and Arthur John Stretton - a shipping clerk, together with his cousin, George Edwin Appleyard - a railway clerk. His father showed himself as a garage attendant - motor cab worker.
On 29 June 1912 he was promoted at the Post Office to the grade of sorter in the London Western District Office.
In January 1914 he joined the 8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) that was a Territorial Force and his Service Number was 1762. He was sent to France and arrived there on 18 March 1915. He was killed in action, aged 26 years, on 28 June 1915 and his body was buried near where he fell and was marked with a cross. He was subsequently exhumed and reburied in , in the Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, Rue du Pont d'Agronsart, 62136, La Couture, France.
On 28 August 1915 the Post Office awarded his personal representative a gratuity of £97-16s-3d for his 5 years, 10 months service. Probate was granted to his executor, his cousin George Edwin Appleyard, on 22 October 1915 and his estate totalled £193-1s-2d. Probate records also show that at the time of his death his home address was 29 Kersley Street, Battersea. His army effects totalling £3-8s-6d were sent to his executor on 23 November 1915 and on 20 May 1919 he was awarded a £3-0s-0d war gratuity that was paid to his estate. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as 'STRETTON, W. H.' on the Western Postal District war memorial, Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the , on the , on the , on the , on the and on .
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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