239957 Pte. William Richard Way British Army 7th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry from:Dawlish, Devon (d.14th Feb 1918) William Way is shown as having enlisted at Torquay, first with the Devonshire Regiment and then the 7th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. He was killed in action on 14 February 1918, aged 37. A Death Grant and War Gratuity were paid to his brother Frederick.
The Way family has been recorded in some detail from Peter Way (1754-1836) and Patience Bishop with eight children, including Francis Way (1778-1854) who married Elizabeth Baker in 1800. The line then passed via Mary Ann Way (1809-1893) to Francis Way (1827-1910) who married Grace Baker in 1849.
Francis Way was an agricultural labourer and had been born in Bow, between North Tawton and Copplestone.
Their family in 1861 was living at Hills Buildings, Bow Village with their first six children, including William Way who was born in the Oct-Dec quarter of 1858 and married Jane Brown (born in Bridport in 1856) in the July - Sept quarter of 1880 . In 1881 they were living at back of 5 Queen Street, Dawlish and William was an agricultural labourer. There is a birth reference for William Richard B Way in the April-June quarter of 1881.
By 1901 William had died and his widow Jane was still living in Tormorhan, this time at 4 Spring Steps, Spring Place, Pimlico with William, now 20, and Frederick, 13. Jane Way is shown as a general hawker, William as a general porter and Frederick as a paper boy/hawker.
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