William's Story.
William intended to make his career in the army and had joined in May 1914. Before that, he had lived with his parents, Edwin & Annie, at 4 St Mary's Gate, Stockport. The 1st Battalion had been decimated by the fighting since their first engagement on 24 August and had already received some re-enforcements. William was part of another draft that joined them in early December. It took a few days of further reorganisation, but the Battalion returned to the front line on 17th December. William must have been in one of the two companies "in support" at that time, as he is reported not to have done his first tour in the front line until Christmas Eve. He is understood to have been taken ill on 11 February and was transferred away from the combat area to a hospital on the French coast, where he died a few days later.