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William is listed as being killed in action on the 13th October 1915. The 1/5th Battalion narrative of events for the period 13th to 16th October is transcribed below.
1/5th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
Narrative of Events from 12 noon on 13th October 1915
Noon to 2.20pm - 13th October
At 12 noon on 13th October 1915 the Battalion was disposed as follows: Headquarters, A & D Coys in the old front line between Hulluch Alley and Border Alley (G.10.b.8.9 to G.11.a.½. 6) to form second line of attack. B & C Coys with Nos 3 & 4 special bombing parties (137th Brigade Operation Orders No 22 para 2) in the old German trenches from G.5.c. ½. 9½ to 7.8 to form first line of the attack.
During the Bombardment, especially from 12.30pm to 1.30pm, the communication trench between the two lines was shrapnelled by the enemy down its whole length. The bombardment did not appear to affect the “South Face” of the Dump Trench as a great deal of sniping from those trenches took place between 12 noon and 2.0pm – three of our periscopes were hit between 1.40pm and 2.0pm.
At 2.10pm No 7 Platoon on the right of B Coy left the trench to form up on the parapet for the assault, and was followed by No 8 and No 6. Capt Milner commanding the Coy, the Platoon officers of No 7 & 8 and most of No 7 Platoon were almost immediately hit by enfilade machine gun fire from the left and the rest of the Company was withdrawn into the trench to await the arrival of the 1/5th North Staffordshire Regiment. The Coy also suffered from shell fire directed on their trench by the enemy.
A & D Coys in the second line move over the parapet at 2.5pm and advanced at 2.10pm. They came immediately under a heavy fire from machine guns and rifles which swept the parapets of our trenches, those of the old front line and the ground between them. The fire was deadly and appeared to come mainly from the left. Before the two Coys had reached the front line trenches all the Officers and most of the men had fallen.
At 2.20pm the Germans instituted a bomb attack on the barrier in Big Willie which was held by 8696 Sgt J. Beards and a section of C Coy. Lt. H Hawkes at once took forward No 4 Special Bombing Party to reinforce the post. At the same time a number of Germans in the South Face trench got out of trench and attempted to cross to Big Willie but were driven back with loss by rapid fire from No 10 Platoon.
2.30pm to Midnight - 13th October
The German bomb attack came over the second barrier into the space between the two barriers and was there engaged by our bombers who drove the enemy back again beyond the second barrier, 8696 Sgt J. Beards and 7952 Pte W. Barnes doing good work with the bayonet. At this point out men came under bomb fire from three directions, right, front and half left, and were forced to retire to the first barrier from which they carried on the fight till about 4pm when our losses in trained bombers made it necessary to retire over the first barrier into our own portion of the trench, the Germans using a longer range grenade that the Mills. A sufficient supply of G.S.h hand grenades did not reach us until later, brought up by a carrying party under Lt. McKinnis, 6th Sherwood Foresters.
After the first advance had been stopped by the German fire, the Battalion occupied our original line in the old German trenches, where it was joined by 2 Officers and 20 men of the 6th South Staffordshire and about 3pm by Capt. Robinson and 60 men of the 6th Bn Sherwood Foresters. The defence was then re-organised as follows – in order from right to left: 6th Bn Sherwood Foresters; B & D Coys 5th Bn South Staffordshire Regt; 6th Bn South Staffordshire Regt; A & C Coys 5th Bn South Staffordshire, the trench sections being commanded by Capt. Robinson (6th Bn Sherwood Foresters). Capt. Wilson, Capt. Thursfield (6th Bn South Staffs) and Capt. Wistance. As a German attack seemed imminent and a thick mist settled over both lanes half the men were kept on watch while the other half took what rest they could. Towards evening the Germans opened a persistent shrapnel (whiz-bang) fire on our parapets.
During the night parties from the 6th Bn South Staffs Regt rendered much assistance in collecting our wounded who were lying in the open between the trenches.
14th to 16th October
At 6.15pm on the 14th October a Coy of 5th Sherwood Foresters under Capt. Kerr arrived in our trenches and was posted to the left of our line in support a new bomb attack on the German sector of Big Willie. This attack, which was intended to co-operate with a similar attack by 138th Brigade from the West Face, and was supported by rifle grenade fire was unsuccessful against a very determined and vigorous defence.
The detachment of the 6th Bn South Staffs was withdrawn about 12 noon and the trench garrison re-organised. Our heavy batteries shelled the South Face severely from about 11.30am onwards during the day and at 1.15pm another bomb attack was made on Big Willie by the Copy 5th Sherwood Foresters but could make no progress, though maintained for nearly two hours. The co-operation of 138th Brigade from the West Face appeared to be very short lived.
During practically the whole day the enemy directed H.E. shrapnel (whiz-bang) fire on our parapets and caused several casualties.
At midnight 14th/15th October the Battalion (with the Sherwood Foresters attached) was relieved by the 3rd Guards Brigade and returned to billets at Sailly-la-Bourse arriving there at 8.0am on the 15th October.
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