William's Story.
EARLY LIFE
William Lear was born in Macclesfield in 1876 and baptised - along with two siblings - on 14 March 1877 at St James Church, Sutton, the son of Eliza and Peter Lear, a labourer of Sutton. In 1881, five-year-old William was living at 69 Stanley Street, Newton Heath, Manchester with his parents and siblings Samuel (11), Julia Ann (9), Silence (2) and John (7 months).
By 1891 the family had returned to Macclesfield and fifteen-year-old William was working as a silk piecer and living at 18 Nixons Yard with his parents and siblings Samuel (21), Julia Ann (19), Silence (12), John (11), Agnes (9), Harold (6) and Peter (3).
William married Emily Hassell in Macclesfield in 1908, and by 1911 the couple were living at 19 Jodrell Street, Macclesfield, and had three children: Sarah Ann (2), who was at her maternal grandparents' home on the night of the census; William (1), and Harold (3 months). Two more children, Peter and Emily, were born in 1913 and 1916.
William Lear's surname was sometimes written as 'Leah' or 'Lea'.
WW1 SERVICE
William Lear enlisted in Macclesfield with the local Cheshire Regiment, initially receiving service number 3773 (or 3173). He later served with service number 50335, and in 1916 was drafted to France and transferred to the Labour Corps.
William was killed in action on 18 December 1917 and his death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 11 January 1918:
WITH A LABOUR UNIT - OLD CAMPAIGNER'S SAD FATE
Official intimation has reached Mrs Lear, 95 King Edward St, Macclesfield, that her husband, Pte William Lear, Labour Corps, was killed in action whilst serving in France on December 18th. He leaves five children.
A native of Macclesfield, Pte Lear was forty-three years of age and in boyhood attended Duke Street National Schools. He was formerly connected with the Macclesfield Sunday School, and in civil life was employed as a labourer at Messrs Gorton and Wilson's. The deceased soldier fought in the Boer War, for which he held the King's and Queen's medals. He went out with the Macclesfield Militia and had close on twenty years' service to his credit. He obtained his discharge from the Special Reserve in 1910, but on the outbreak of the present war Pte Lear again responded to the call of King and Country. He was transferred to a Labour unit and drafted out to France about twelve months ago.
Mrs Lear has two brothers serving in the Army, one of whom, Pte William Hassall, Cheshire Regt, was one of the hundred local men who volunteered for active service in France with another battalion of the Cheshires. He was slightly wounded just over twelve months ago. Another brother, Pte Sidney Hassall, Ches Regt, has been discharged from the Army on account of wounds. Two nephews, Ptes Sam and Arthur Rowbotham, are also serving - one in France and the other in Mesopotamia.
COMMEMORATION
Private William Lear is buried in Grave Ref. II. F. 2. of the White House Cemetery, Belgium. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private William Lear, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, William Lear is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael's Church war memorials.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages
Macclesfield Parish Baptism Registers (FindMyPast)
Census (England & Wales): 1881, 1891, 1911
British Army WWI Medal Rolls (Ancestry)
British Army Medal Index Cards (Ancestry)
Soldiers Died in the Great War (Ancestry)
Lives of the First World War website
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 11 January 1918
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.