Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 1st Ocober 1918. The following account of the actions of that is taken from the Light Bobs Regimental History website.

Flat Farm - [NW of La Bassee] From midnight 30th September until 5.30 a.m. on the 1st October enemy shelling was slight, as was also machine-gun fire. At zero hour (6 a.m.) our artillery opened on the initial barrage line for six minutes, during which time the two front companies (C and D) moved out into "worm" formation, as close up to the barrage as possible, so as to be ready to go forward at 6.6 a.m. The barrage then lifted, and C and D Companies advanced with A and B in support. They at once came under very heavy machine-gun fire from four distinct points, and many casualties resulted. Our own shells falling short also caused casualties. The companies advanced 400-500 yards, when, owing to the extent of front to be occupied, to the losses sustained, and to the fact that the left flank of the 3rd Division (co-operating on our right) had not got forward, our leading companies lost direction, with the result that the Regiment covered only half its allotted frontage. About this time the support companies reinforced the front line, and the whole pushed forward to the line of the railway about G.8.d.50, where they captured 3 German machine guns with their teams, and several other prisoners. Further advance became impossible, as the enemy machine-gun nests immediately opened very heavy fire on any movement. The senior officers present (Captain Eagle, D Com­pany, and Lieut. Cowell, C Company) ordered their men to dig in. The situation remained unchanged throughout the day until 6.30 p.m., when an attack was made by the 24th R.F. and 2nd H.L.I. which surprised the enemy, who was evidently expecting to be attacked from another direction. The attack was successful, and the Regiment became support battalion. Communication all day was very difficult, all ground over which orderlies had to move being in full view, so that they had to crawl for very long distances. Casualties.—Lieut. L. Bartlett and 33 other ranks killed; Captain J. Blagrove, Lieut. A. H. B. Brooks, 2nd Lieut. H. A. L B. Stokes, and 125 other ranks wounded; and 1 man wounded and missing. END