Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 12th October 1917. The 1st Battalion war diary for the period 11th to 13th October is transcribed below.

Front Line Trenches SW of Houthulst Forest

11.X.17: The C.O and Doctor joined the Bn at 1pm. HQ are at Louvis Farm. The front line is on a ridge crossing into the Forest & is unapproachable by Day.

The dispositions of the Bn are: Front Line Left No 4 Coy; Right Prince of Wales Coy with 5 sections of No 2 Coy, the remainder of the Bn in support. On our left the 1^st Bn 8^th French Infantry Regt, on our right 4^th Bn Grenadier Guards. We had to advance from line on the extreme Bn right about 50 yards, the centre about 25 yards and the left (right of No 4 Coy) about 20 yards. The left did not move.

This was done without incident & was completed & reported to the Brigade by 11pm. The day and night were quiet, except for occasional shelling. Weather cold, wet and awful.

12.X.17: Zero hour was 5.25am. We remained stationary, 4^th Bn Grenadier Guards advanced about 100 yards. 1^st Battalion Grenadier Guards about 200 to 300 yards. The entire operation was a success. The enemy shelling was very heavy all the day through & our front line, particularly on the left was heavily sniped.

Lt. N Newall was killed by a sniper. 2/Lt F.S.D Fripp was accidentally wounded, he jumped onto a bayonet. The wind and rain is awful, it is beyond the powers of description.

13.X.17: At 4am a message came in that the Bosch was going to counter-attack and that an creeping barrage would come down between 5 and 5.30am. Our barrage came down & the Bosch never counter-attacked.

The Major General came up to Bn HQ at 12 noon. The enemy shelled on and off all day. We were relieved by 2^nd Bn Coldstream Guards, relief started at 7 and was complete by midnight. Another indescribable day, wind, rain wind and cold.