Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 18 May 1915. The 18th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below. Click here for full diary.

18th May 15 - Essars: Parade in front of HQ at 6:45am. All on time. Marched off at 6:55. Passed through Essars 7am. Arrived at General Headquarters line SE of Le Touret at 8am. Went to Brigade Headquarters and got orders to occupy trenches west of Indian Village just east of Rue L’Epinnette. Marched off at 2pm via route B – 100 yards between companies in fours. Met General Turner and Staff at Rue L’Epinnette. Ordered to make an advance with 14^th Battalion on our left. One Company of 16^th to make flank attack on orchard south of La Quinque Rue.

Marched up to Indian Village just behind old British line and detached No 4 Co under Capt Hastings to make flank attack. No 2 Co under Capt Rae to make front attack in conjunction with two Companies under Colonel Burland. 16^th on right – 14^th on left. No 1 and 3 Companies supporting Capt Rae remained in 1^st line of German trench. 14^th Batt swung too much to the right pushing us in that direction also. We occupied position of our assigned line. 14^th Battn did not. Flank attack was not proceeded with owing to non-arrival of covering units.

Captain Hastings casualties 4 killed and 40 wounded. Major Rae’s casualties 20 wounded.

Asked to attack and clear wood of troops in position but 14^th not in position consequently did not advise attack.

Strenuous night, got in touch with Major Rae by phone and had him adjust line to as to connect up with British troops on both flanks. 14^th got on to our left and connected up with the Guards & we connected with Wilts on our right.

Colonel Burland took 14^th away before day light [19^th] and left gap of 200x between us and Guards. Place machine gun in our flank next this gap. Sent up No 1 and 3 Companies under Major Peck and Captain Mouson at 11.30 to dig in. They did not arrive owing to great darkness until 2am [19^th] but completed the trenches.

No 2 and 4 Companies came out to reserve trenches. No 2 in German 1^st line and No 4 in British 1^st line. Major Peck in charge of line for day, Major Rae and Captain Hastings having come out.