Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 3 Oct 1918. The 1st/5th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Levergies – 3^rd October 1918 – 01.30: Battalion moved, pitch black night

05.15: Battalion in position for attack. Brigade disposed as follows:
1/6^th NSR [North Staffs Reg] - Left Bn            1/6^th SSR - Right Bn        1^st/5^th SSR – Support Bn

Battalion disposed as follows:
A Coy                   D Coy
C Coy                   B Coy

The forming up if the Brigade on unreconnoitred ground and in the dusk was most creditable to all concerned. Major C.C.  Dowding DSO MC, of this Battalion had gone forward at midnight and taped the front line of the two front Battalions. The outposts of the 32^nd Division had meanwhile withdrawn and during the forming up and zero there was nothing between us and the enemy.

The 139^th Infantry Brigade (Brigadier General Harrington DSO) on our left had as there objective Montbrehain. The 32^nd Division on our right has as their objective Sequehart. While forming up, enemy shelled valley in immediate vicinity of this Battalion with gas which made us form up on the high ground. This saved us many casualties and at zero we kept as far as we could to this high ground while the enemy’s barrage fell on the low.

06.05 ZERO: Our men moved forward in splendid order and high spirits. The general course of this battle is described in the attached narrative. The 139^th Infantry Brigade failed to get Montbrehain and stuck in Ramiecourt. The 32^nd Division got Sequehart but was said to have been driven out. However they re-occupied this village shortly afterwards. The general plan of their attack and the objectives for this Brigade are shown on the attached appendix.

10.00: Yet in spite of this the 137^th Infantry Brigade at 10.00 had gained all its objectives and waited for the Cavalry to break through. But we held our objective so lightly that every five minutes delay was to our disadvantage. Gradually we were forced back, but the Brigade on our left went back first. The uncertainty of what the 32^nd Division was doing injured the right Battalion. The 139^th Infantry Brigade came up to support us. At night a Regiment of dismounted cavalry also came up to support us by holding the Fonsommes Line. This over-reinforcing caused a congestion and confusion which did not help.

NIGHT 3^rd/4^th: The Brigade held an outpost line running Sequehart-I.9.c.I.13.d.I.7.d Montbrehain. Our outposts were withdrawn in the early morning.