Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 25th March 1918. The 1st/1st war diary entries for the 24th to 26th March are transcribed below.

Grandru - 24^th March 1918 – 5.30am: Battalion stood to

6.30am: Ordered to W.11.k remained till noon when ordered to retire to Fm des Grands Beines in W.11.c and report to Staff Officers.

1.10pm: 14^th Division, 4^th Cavalry Division (last to go) commenced move. Shell on arrival there. Dug in to right of the French till 3pm when the Battn was ordered to retire to Bouchoire W.25.

4.30pm: Battn arrived Bouchoire Cross Roads which were immediately shelled.

5.30pm: Ordered to Crissoles, arrived outside Rimbercourt at 6.15pm and waited there nearly an hour then proceeded to billets at Crissoles

9.00pm: Ordered to march at 11pm to Beaurains where the horses would meet Battn.

11.00pm: Led horses and echelons of Bde ordered to move to Bivouacs at Bailly. On way to Bde rendezvous orders received to send horses to  fetch dism Battn [dismounted Battalion] & remainder to go on to Bailly. 2/Lt Tompkins sent in charge of Ox Hrs led horses. Maj Clinch (3^rd Hussars) to take up led horses of the Bde.

Beaurains & Bailly – 25^th March 1918 – 4.0am: Composite Brigade (Mounted) under Lt. Col G Cook 20^th Hussars formed. Capt. V. Hermon 6 D.G’s [Dragoon Guards] in command of Dismounted Brigade (2 Sqdns), Capt. F Weatherby in command of Composite 2 troops OX Hrs, 1 troop 5^th Lancers. Remainder of Battn rode back picking up 3^rd Hussars at Noyon, who had been detached previous day, via Pontoise to Bailly.

11.00am: Composite Regt formed from Bde details under Lt. Col. Willcox. Maj Hon AGC Villiers in Command Ox Hrs Squadron. Regt concentrated at Pontoise.

6.00pm: Led horses ordered to be saddled up at once, ready to move at moments notice. Stood to all night, V Cold.

Bailly – 25^th March 1918 – 8.0am: Led horses and echelons marched to bivouacs in wood S of Commegne.