Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on the 16th September 1916. The 2nd Battalion war diary entries for the period 14th to 17th September 1916 are transcribed below.

Carnoy – 14 Sep 1916: At 8pm the Battn moved up to Ginchy and took over trenches from the 2^nd Grenadier Guards. Relief completed about midnight.

Ginchy – 15 Sep 1916: At 6.30am the Battn advanced to the assault with 3^rd Bn Coldstream Guards on left and 1^st Bn Coldstream Guards (2^nd Brigade) on right. Position of Companies No 3 Coy left front, No 4 Coy right front, No 1 Coy left support, No 2 Coy right support

On emerging from Ginchy Wood the line came under very heavy machine gun & rifle fire and despite our artillery barrage casualties were very heavy. Two lines of trenches were captured and left and the original objective 1000-2000 yards away was taken without great opposition at 7.15am.

About 11am the line again advanced and despite a heavy hostile artillery barrage took the 2^nd line. Lt Edmonstone and Lt Laing the only two officers left, went out 400-500 yards in front with men of No 1 Coy and remained there till dusk when ordered to retire. Lt Edmonstone was killed during the withdrawal.

The Commanding Officer and Lt J. Laing were the only two officers left with the remains of the Battn. Remainder of night spend in consolidating position. At 7pm a counter-attack by a few Germans on our right flank was easily repulsed.

Ginchy – 16 Sep 1916: After a fairly quiet night the enemy shelled our position and lines in rear continuously throughout the day. Infantry on our flanks attacked the German lines with moderate success.

Ginchy – 17 Sep 1916: At dawn the Battn, after a quiet night, were relieved by the Lincolns and marched to Bernafay Wood where they had a hot meal and then returned to Huts & tents at the Citadel – Battn marching in Commanding Officer, 2/Lt J Laing and 242 other ranks.

Approximate casualties: Officers killed 4, died of wounds 2, wounded 10. Other Ranks killed, wounded and missing 440.