South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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1s |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France and Flanders | British War & Victory Medals | Adanac Military Cemetery |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| 21 Jan 1916 | ~ | Ettington |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Battle of Thiepval (Somme) | 8 May 1915, Vernon, Canada | |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| Courcelette | 54th Battalion - May 1915 | |
| 30th Battalion - Oct 1915 |
Original Burial
William was originally buried "just N of Courcelette, 5 miles S.W. of Baupume" and his remains were exhumed and reburied at Adanac Military Cemetery on 2.10.1920 (click here for report)
Circumstances of Death
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William is listed as being killed in action on 26 Sep 1916 when the 29th Infantry Battalion were involved in the attack at Thiepval. The war diary for that day (click here for full diary) is transcribed below. War DiarySept.26.1916. 1.50am: A & D Coy's had occupied Quarry in front of Courcelette; C & B Coy's had dug in along Gun Pit Road beside Cemetery. Battalion Headquarters were at M.25.a.5.4 Le Sar Sheet. Dumps established in the Quarry; Telephone commincation very bad. At 12.55pm our barrage commenced and one minute afterwards the attack started, our objective being enemy front line from M.19.d.2.6 to M.19.d.7.2. Objective was gained and advanced post established about 100 yards in front of the line. The 28th [Battalion] on our right flank were to attack in conjunction with tank, but received orders not to go forward as tank was put out of action. The 31st Battalion on our left flank were held up by wire and machine gun fire and did not gain their objective until next day. The Battalion held on although exposed to galling sniping and machine gun fire. During the evening there were two counter-attacks which were repulsed. 29th Battalion - Brief HistoryThe 29th (Vancouver) Battalion, also known as “Tobin’s Tigers”, was raised in Vancouver in March of 1915 and had an initial strength of 1227 officers and men. Its first CO was Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Tobin, a veteran of the RCMP and the South African War. Arriving at the front in the fall of 1915 it served with distinction from the trenches of the Kemmel Sector to the Final 100 Days campaign. Of 4524 soldiers who served in its ranks during the war 606 were killed and 1400 were wounded in battle. More than 355 decorations for gallantry were earned by the men of the 29th, amongst them one Victoria Cross awarded to Company Sergeant-Major Robert Hill Hanna. (Source) |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 18 Jul 1882 at Walworth, Southwark | 29 Jul 1883 at Holy Trinity, Stratford on Avon |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| William Victor and Frances Amelia Wyldes | Rose Cottage, Ettington (Mother only) |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1882 - Walworth, London | 1891 - Scholar |
| 1891 - 364 Long Acre, Aston | 1915 - Barber in Canada |
| 1915 - Canada | |
- For some reason after the 1891 census William's parents were seperated and his mother, Frances, moved to Ettington and in the 1911 census she is listed as a seamstress living at Rose Cottage, Ettington where she remained at least until 1920 and she died in 1931 in Stratford on Avon District.
- A William V. Wyldes arrived in New York aboard the Aurania in 1897, the records indicate he was alone and we have yet to establish if
that is William or his father also William Victor. We have found two marriages, 1 in Canada and 1 in USA which we think are William Snr using the name Victor.
- We did find William Senior in a list from British Spiritualist Mediums and Speakers, 1887-1889 which lists one of the speakers as Mr. William Victor Wyldes, Trance and Inspirational Orator, Psychometric, Sensitive, and Clairvoyant Medium, The Ladies College,
Ashted Row, Birmingham.