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William is officially listed by the CWGC (see ablove) as being killed in action on 29 Sep 1916, however his service record states that he was killed at some stage between the 25th and 29th Sept 1916. The 6th Battalion Report of Operations for the 25th to 30th Sept is transcribed below.
OPERATIONS ON SOMME FROM
25.9.16 TO 30.9.1916 - Appendix II
25 Sep 1916
25 Sep 1916: The Battalion started from Bernafey Wood at 4.0am, marched through Delville Wood and occupied trenches as fwollows by 6am
HQ & D Coy – Switch Trench
A, B & C Coys – Assembly trenches behind switch trench
The Battn remained in these trenches till 1pm (zero being 12.25pm). At 1pm D & C Coys advanced across the open to follow up and occupy trenches vacated by 8th and 9th Battalions as they advanced and to support and reinforce them in case of necessity. Two Platoons of D Coy and two platoons of C Coy reinforced the 8th & 9th Battns when they were checked by enemy machine guns in Gird Trench, and they had a good many casualties from these machine guns, Major H.H. Emerson O.C. C Coy being killed and Capt Quayle O.C. D Coy wounded.
At 2pm HQ & A & B Coys advanced in artillery formation, as wounded men that the 8th and 9th Battns were in the village. Bn HQ was established in Bull Road Trench and the Battn was disposed as follows.
- Two platoons of C Coy and two platoons of D Coy in Pioneer Trench with oddments of 8th & 9th
- A Coy and the remainder of C & D Coys in Bull Road trench
- B Coy in Bull Road support
They remained in these positions during night of 25/26th and these trenches were heavily shelled during the night.
26 Sep 1916
The Battn advanced at 4.30pm preceded by patrols to take the final objective on the Northern & Eastern outskirts of Guedecourt. The barrage was fairly heavy and some few casualties took place. The leading platoons entered the village about 5.30pm and the village was not then being shelled by the enemy.
No enemy were encountered in the Southern portion of the village but the leading platoons on reaching the Lesboeufs-Factory Corner Road through village were heavily sniped and fired at by enemy machine guns. They held onto this line till dusk when they were at once reinforced by the other platoons and moved forward with very slight casualties to the orchards on the northern and eastern outskirts of village and began consolidating. This was continued throughout the night with very slight molestation from the enemy. The village itself and approaches to it, and especially its south-western edge were, however, very heavily shelled.
HQ’s were established at N.26.d.2.8. Touch was established with 62nd Inf Bde on the right at N.27.a.5.o but it was not till the morning of the 27th inst that connection was gained with the 55th Divn on the left.
27 to 30 Sep 1916
27th Sept: Consolidation was continued as far as possible by daylight and during the night the posts on the Northern edge were connected up. There was a certain amount of sniping but the trenches were not heavily shelled. The village itself and approaches to it were heavily shelled but very few casualties were sustained and no troops were in the village.
28th Sept: Situation remained the same. At midnight a strong patrol under 2/Lieut J.B. Garner and a party of Pioneers went out to Garden trench and made a small post with blocks on either side to deny its occupation by the enemy.
29th Sept: Situation same. At 9pm the Battn was relieved by 7th Leic Regt. The relief was complete by 11.30pm. A certain number of casualties were caused to both Battns by enemy’s bombardment of village and its approaches.
30th Sept: The Battn returned to its formed bivouac near Bernafey Wood, arriving there at 1am.
Casualties
OFFICERS
Killed: Major H.H. Emmerson; Capt C.M.G. Gillett; 2/Lt W.E. Robinson
Wounded: Capt G.A Quayle; Lieut A.V. Dagg; Lieut F. Woolnough; 2/Lt's A.C. Nicholls; C.H. Higson; A.N. Dixon; E.G. Lane-Roberts; E.J. Hodgson; F. Gilding & G.H. Bowen
OTHER RANKS
Killed: 32
Wounded: 141
Missing: 25
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