Barnet Homes’ registered provider, Opendoor Homes, is well underway with its new build development plans for 320 affordable homes for rent in Barnet by 2020. Behind every development there’s a fascinating story for history enthusiasts…
Barnet Homes’ newest housing development will be named after a fallen Mill Hill soldier and Medal for Bravery recipient, who served in the First World War almost from day one, and lost his young life only months before the end.
William Ansell, who was born in Hendon and grew up in Mill Hill, will be remembered by the newly developed namesake Ansell Court, which will provide 53 dementia friendly extra care homes for Barnet residents.
Mr Ansell would have been amongst the first to serve his country when the Great War broke out, having already been in the army for nine years.
He joined as a regular in July 1905 at Mill Hill barracks and when the war broke out on 28 July 1914 he was serving within weeks, mobilising at Mill Hill on 5 August 1914.
He also married in 1914 and his only child was born later the same year, by which time he was already posted in France or Belgium.
Among his war accolades, Mr Ansell was promoted to Corporal in August 1916 and in June 1917 was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the field, after being part of the London Battalion’s successful Battle of Arras in April.
On 19 May 1918, aged just 29 and only six months shy of the end of the war, William Ansell was killed in action by an air raid. He was buried at Etaples.
Ansell Court extra care scheme:
- 53 one and two-bedroom flats
- Due to be completed Winter 2018