William's Story.
Born in 1895 William was one of nine children of James and Susannah Jeffs of Frodsham. In 1901 the family lived at 3 Vine Cottages, Frodsham. James age 34 was working as a labourer at the chemical works with him was his wife Susannah age 29 and children Mary age 8, WILLIAM age 6, Alfred age 4 and Elizabeth age 2. By 1911 Susannah was a widow and of their nine children two had died, the family still lived at 3 Vine Cottages, Mary then 18 was working as Factory Wrapper on a farm, WILLIAM 16 was working as a labourer possibly on the same farm, Alfred 14 was working as a messenger while Elizabeth 11, Charles 9, Arthur 6, and Elise 3 were at school or at home.
By August 1914 William was working at the Castner Kellner works, Weston. He enlisted on the 4th September 1914 his declared age was 19 years 7 months, he was 5ft 9 inches, he had a dark complexion, his right eye was dark blue while his left was dark grey. On the 15th September 1914, he was posted to the 10th battalion Cheshire Regiment. The 10th Battalion was formed at Chester on the 10th September and came under the orders of the 75th Brigade, they first moved to Codford St Mary and then by November 1914 they were in billets in Bournemouth, by May 1915 they continued their training in Aldershot. One year 22 days after joining on the 26th September 1915 William and the 10th Battalion landed in France. Following a few instructional visits to the trenches at 6pm on the 9th October the battalion did its first full tour.
In April 1916 William was promoted to Lance Corporal.
On the 17th May 1916, the Battalion were near Mont St Eloi west of Vimy, that evening they proceeded up to the trenches and took over from the 3rd Worcestershire Regiment, the war diary reads:
There was a slight bombardment during the relief but things quietened down later and the night was comparatively quiet.
18th The day was quiet. At 10pm the four post on our left were attacked and heavily bombed, they succeeded in driving those posts in and taking our crater posts (BROADMARSH) a counter attack was organised and some serve hand to hand fighting was engaged, we succeeded in driving the enemy out of a position of the outpost line, but could not retake the crater. Capt. Ellerton was killed, 2nd Lt Young missing, most possibly killed, four other officers wounded; 11 other ranks killed 40 wounded.
Broadmarsh Crater May 2016.
19th Some shelling and trench mortar fire during the morning and afternoon. At 9:15pm an attack was made on the portion of our trench and crater that the enemy still held, they were driven out and the posts recaptured and consolidated.
On the 19th during the retaking of the crater William was severely wounded he died from those wounds shortly after.
William is buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St Eloi
In May 1920, his mother and family held a memorial service, during the service a poem written by his mother, brothers and sisters was read out.
Could I, his mother, have clasped his hand the son I loved so well, and kissed his brow when death was nigh, and whispered “Willie farewell”
Dear Willie, I will not forget the words you said to soothe my pain; “Don’t cry mother “was your last farewell “I’ll soon be home again”
Oft our thoughts do wander to a grave so far away where they laid our dear brother just four years ago today.