Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 10th July 1917. The 216th Company war diary entries for the 9th & 10th July are transcribed below.

Nieuport Bains – 9.7.17: Increase in hostile activity in the morning. Communication trenches to positions in ? Station and Maison de Marins blown in. A partially successful raid was made by the 2/K.R.R’s at night.

Nieuport Bains – 10.7.17: A very heavy hostile bombardment began at 4.0am and was carried on through the day. Towards midday an intense barrage was placed roughly about Nieuport Bains – Nieuport Railway. About 1pm that fire slackened somewhat and restarted on the right about 2pm gradually sweeping round to the coast again.

At about 5.30pm the fire became very intense. A barrage line was placed on the line Nieuport Bains - Nieuport Bains Station - the railway line.

At 7.50pm a message was received from the 1^st L.N. Lancs that our front line was now the W Bank of the Yser. Arrangements were at once made to visit the guns and see that everything was in order. The Station positions were found to be in good order but the teams were buried inside the building. Lieut P.G. Wilson performed excellent work in getting these guns into action in spite of the heavy bombardment going on. In the meantime 2/Lt Bullpitt had made his way to the gun W of the pier head. Here in conjunction an Officer of the 2^nd R Sussex, in charge of the 37mm guns. He organised a small strong point at the W end of the bridge nearest the sea.

Communication with the guns in the right subsector was entirely cut off by a heavy barrage along the only line of communication. All reserve men were called up with instructions to relieve on the right & reinforce on the left. Men were also borrowed temporarily with one Officer of No 2 M.G.Coy who had lost all their guns. These however were not wanted eventually. By midnight matters were settling down but the whole of the new front line was all connected right along.