Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 9th May 1915 during the Battle of Aubers, having initally been reported as missing in action. The 1st Battalion war diary entry for the 9th May 1915 is transcribed below.

Rue du Bois - May 9th: Everyone was up and ready at Daybreak completing last details and any events. We had a large amount of stores to carry such as scaling ladders rifles wire cutters bombs flags etc. The morning was fine and very clear and the gunnery observation officer attached for the day to the battalion thought it 8 perfect morning for his artillery.

At 5:00 AM a sharp bombardment of the enemy lines and 45 posts commenced from our guns behind, 18 pounders, 15 inch and 9.2 inch Howitzers. The noise was terrific. This bombardment continued until 5:30 AM during which the guns were playing on the various enemy batteries and fortified houses in rear of the line.

From 5:30 until 5:40 heavy fire was turned on the enemy trenches which were the sandbank breastwork. The 18 pounder field guns playing on the barbed wire cut gaps for our infantry assault. During this 10 minutes the men of our two leading companies B under Capt Dickson and D under Capt Farrar got over the parapet preceded by the bombers, men carrying ladders etc. These companies advanced as close as possible to about 100x and there lay down until the bombardment ceased. Again at the same time two companies in the support trenches A & C under Captain ? and Capt Robinson & Bn HQ moved from the supporting trenches to the fire trenches and then it's over the parapet to support B and D.

At 5:40am precisely the bombardment ceased and the battalion with the royal Sussex rushed to the assault. Our first companies got close up to the German barbed wire and captain Dickson and about 20 men reached a gap made by our guns in the trenches. They were then all shot down, Capt Dickson he was killed at once and also Capt Farrar.

The enemy had opened a heavy rifle and machine gun fire from their trenches before our men could get near them and we were mown down. It was impossible to take the position and the assault had failed. Our artillery appeared to have done little damage to the enemy as regards either the parapet wire or men themselves for even through the bombardment on their trenches, rifle shots and machine gun fire was directed on our men they came over our parapet.

By this time the enemy had opened fire with his guns and heavily shelled our parapets, reserve trenches & Rue du Bois. The battalion was now lying in front between the two trenches unable to advance or retire or even leave to where a post was being fired on [very difficult to read]. Throughout the day the main layout absolutely exposed to the rifle machine gun and shellfire from the German lines. A few who were near our parapet managed to retire on the order being given. They were collected behind our lines and support trenches and there remained for the remainder of the day.

At 3pm another bombardment and assault was ordered, the 1^st Bde undertaking it this time with no better results though a few men of the Black Watch got into the German trenches but were forced to retire.

 When darkness came the survivors crawled back to our trenches having laid out in the open for 14½ hours. The wounded, those that could be got to, were brought back, the medical officer Lt Bourdillon doing very valuable work in this way. The Commanding Officer and Adjutant brought out the remainder of the Battalion (150 odd) to Le Touret where orders were received to billet for the night – the 2^nd Division having taken over our trenches & operations from 7pm.

Our losses were very heavy eight officers being killed and nine and wounded and 541 men killed, wounded or missing. Of the 17 Company Officers that went out only two returned intact?.