An Oxhey Village resident who lost his life in World War One has finally been added to the local Roll of Honour, thanks to an OVEG member.
Bertram Charles Ibbott served on the Western Front and passed away in 1917 – aged just 21 – due to wounds sustained from an exploding shell. He was buried at the Beehive Cemetery, in Willerval, northern France.
The war memorial on Oxhey Village Green, which was once located in the former Oxhey Village Baptist Church, already carried his name. However, local resident and OVEG member John Upton noticed that Bertram was not named in Watford Museum’s roll of honour.
John contacted us and, having spoken made contact with the museum, we are delighted that Bertram is now included in the roll.
Bertram was born in Dalston in 1896 before the family moved to Oxhey Village (then called ‘New Bushey’) around the turn of the century. He attended Watford Grammar School and lived in at least two addresses in the area, including 57 London Road – which no longer exists – and later ‘Osborne Villa’ at 57 Chalk Hill.
His brother Arthur was also killed in 1916. Following the war, his parents later moved to ‘Ivinghoe’ on Sherwood’s Road.
We have spoken with Jill Ibbott – a descendant of Bertram who still lives in the village – who told us she is glad he has been given his “rightful place in the roll of honour.”
We’d like to thank John and Watford Museum for ensuring that future generations can learn about Bertram’s life and the sacrifice he made.
Recording the history of local servicepeople has always been important to OVEG. In 1994, we oversaw the reinstatement of the memorial cross on Watford Heath. In 2014, we helped install the war memorial on Oxhey Village Green and, in 2025, we coordinated its refurbishment.
Each year, we work with the community to organise the Remembrance Day memorial walk, and arrange for poppies to be placed around the village. You can read more about Remembrance Day in Oxhey Village.
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