Military History

William is listed as having died of wounds on 13th August 1916 at the 36th Casualty Clearing Station. The Battalion war diary entries for the period 12th to 15th August are transcribed below and we suspect that William was wounded during the actions that started on the 12th August 1916.

Bazentin le Petit - 1916 Aug 12: Intense hostile artillery fire on our trenches throughout the early morning but below normal during the remainder of the day. Operation orders received from Bde HQ that the Battn would attack at 10.30am the remaining 300x [yards] of IntermediIntermediate line remaining east of the direct Bazentin-le-Pet-t - Martinpuich Road.

Artillery cooperation, about hours bombardment with heavies up to 7pm then 3 mins intense shelling by 18 pds before Zero (10.30pm) & lastly to the left & continue for an hour.

Order of Attack, A Coy on the right, C Coy on the left, each on a half company frontage, platoons in line, the remaining half companies in same formation to follow at 25x [yard] distance. B & D companies to occupy trenches of and when left by C & A & to support the attack if called upon. B Coy to supply one section to follow each half company assaulting, with consolidating material.

The bombardment of the hostile trench by our own heavies no doubt advertised our intended attack. Directly darkness set in our front & C Trenches and BN HQ were subjected to an intense shelling by 77mm shrapnel fire which increased in intensity directly the assault issued our own parapet, also considerable M/G fire was opened up on our men. The attack was held up within 20x [yards] of the hostile trench, also the left flank cooperation of bombing groups led by the 10 Royal Scots on the left with the 10th L N Lancs on the right. The assaulting troops were obliged to return to their original trenches.
Our casualties were Officers: Killed 1; wounded 2; missing 2 and OR's: Killed 11; wounded 109; missing 37. The signal officer was also wounded while laying lines during the previous afternoon.

Bazentin le Petit - 1916 Aug 13: At daybreak many of our men were still finding their way back [from the attack on enemy lines east of Bazentin the previous day] to our own lines. The Germans showed themselves & shouted friendly remarks to our men and appeared anxious for a peaceful spell. Our stretcher bearers went out and fetched in wounded men. For some hours the situation was very quiet. The distance between the lines was 80-200yds. It remained unusually quiet throughout the day.

Bazentin le Petit - 1916 Aug 14: Intermittent artillery activity on both sides. At 7pm Battalion relieved by the 10th Lincoln Regiment and proceeded to the Reserve Trenches in Mametz Wood.

Mametz Wood - 1916 Aug 15: Quiet day. 5.30pm relieved by 8th Royal Berkshire Regt and proceeded to bivouacs in Becourt Wood. 34th Division relieved by 1st Division.