William is listed as being killed in action on 8 Feb 1915 but a report in the Warwick Advertiser states that he had been missing in action since 25 Jan 1915. Red Cross records reveal that William's mother Mary wrote to them seeking the whereabouts of William and when read in conjunction with the war diary entries below it is clear that his date of death was most likely 25 Jan 1915.
War Diary 25 Jan 1815
25 Jan 15 – Bethune & Guinchy: Our 2nd bathing day we also had the local rifle range allotted to us in the morning. We rose to the sound of a heavy cannonade and at 9.30am we got the order to move at once up to (Beauvry) Beuvry obtaining orders from Brigade HQ on the way. The Germans after exploding 6 mines had rushed the Guards trenches West & South of the forward brickstack. Our troops were at one time driven back to the edgy of Guinchy village but by a counter attack got back to Pudding Lane & the Culvert Post which they held as well as the Keep, as strongpoint made by joining 4 brickstacks with brickwalls which was ours throughout.
At the same time as the attack South of the Canal, North of the Canal the 3rd Brigade had been driven back onto their Keep in the village of Givenchy church, by a quick counter attack however the line was totally restored on that side.
At 5.30pm we reached Cambrin from Beuvry and went straight to Guinchy to act under the orders of O.C. Black Watch.
At 7.30pm B & C Coys advanced from Guinchy village with the object of recovering some of the ground lost by the 1st Brigade. A & D Coys remained in reserve in Guinchy. The moon was nearly full & when our companies crossing Pudding Lane which was crowded with 1st Bde troops the Germans, who were evidently expecting a counter-attack, opened a very heavy fire.
Lieut Richmond of the Black Watch, who was in Pudding Lane, came up to HQ and told us that our men were advancing in capital style. They gained a position between the old Observation Brick Stack and Railway Bridge & during the night dug a new Trench there on a frontage of about 300 yards. END
War Diary 5th Feb 1915 to 14th Feb 1915
Allouagne - 5th to 7th Feb 1915: Platoon training. Firing on Range. M Gun training. Signalling instruction. 2nd Lts Clayton, Green and Juckes joing with 46 re-inforcements.
Allouagne - 8th to 14th Feb 1915: Platoon training, Company training. Firing on Range. M Gun training. Signalling instruction.
