Military History

William originally enlisted for WW1 in the Northamptonshire Regiment on 18 Aug 1914 but was discharged on 4 Dec 1914 because of his eyesight. However he must have re-enlisted very shortly afterwards in the Border Regiment and was in France just over a month later using the last name of Henson. He is named as William Henson on the CWGC website and this is probably because he was rejected for service under his real name of Hence. His real name is revealed in the additional information section of his CWGC page which states "son of Jane and the late William Hence".

William is listed as being killed in action on 16 May 1915 during the Battle of Festubert. The 2nd Battalion war diary entry for the 16th is transcribed below.

16/5/1915 - Festubert: The Brigade were allotted the task of breaking the line at two points. The Border Regiment from P5 to Princes Road, roughly 150 yards and the 2^nd Scots Guards from Princes Road to 150 yard to right.

At 3.15am two Platoons of A Coy made the assault but were stopped by two of our own heavy howitzer shells which dropped after the bombardment should have ceased. They advanced a second time after heavy loss and gained the German trench. They were at once supported by the remained two Platoons of A Coy. An attempt was made to progress further but the advance was stalled by a ditch full of water and by heavy machine gun fire which enfiladed from the left.

The whole of B Cioy was then pushed over & occupied the German front line trench with orders to hold P5 at all costs. 80 Brigade bombers were attached to the Coy for this purpose. Attempts were made to bomb down the trench to the left which was still in the hands of the Germans. About 200 yards was gained but on each occasion the ground gained had to be given up owing to the shortage of bombs. These parties came under fire from a trench mortar during each attempt and suffered very heavy losses but despite these losses P5 was held until the Battalion was relieved.

About this time the communication trench P5, P4, which was our objective, was made good.

The machine gunners with two guns were then sent up to a point about midway between P5 & P4 to strengthen the line. C & D Coys pushed over into the German trench and prolonged the line to the right.

During these operations the Battalion suffered very heavily. Lieut Col L.J Wood CMG was wounded midway between the British and German trenches and was brought in by Sgt Maj Davenport & Corp Coleman but died as soon as he reached the British trenches.

Maj. A.S.W Moffat was in command of the two leading Coys & was hit in the head in the German communications trench P4, P5 & died short afterwards. The following Officers were also killed and wounded

During the night the Battn was relieved by the 1^st Grenadier Guards on account of the serious losses it had sustained & returned to the old British line where it was reorganised by Captain Gackenthorpe who had assumed command of the Battalion.

17/5/1915 - Festubert: The day was spent bringing in the wounded & burying the dead, while superintending this work Lt. W Kerr was wounded in the leg in the early part of the afternoon.