Despite being aged 37 years and with a young family, William enlisted into the army on 9 December 1914 following the outbreak of war. He was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall with a scar on his forehead. He was given serial number 18460, which was later changed to 284689.
Perhaps due to his age, he was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment on 14 January 1915. This battalion remained at home throughout the war, providing drafts for other battalions, although William himself never went overseas. The regimental depot remained at Richmond when the Battalion moved to its war station at West Hartlepool, with detachments at Seaton Carew and South Gare. He was promoted to acting Lance Corporal in April 1915, acting Corporal in July 1915, full Corporal in June 1916, and to acting Sergeant in August 1916.
On 23 June 1917 William transferred to the 495th Home Service Employment Company of the Labour Corps, reverting to his regular rank of Corporal. The Corps had been raised in April from existing regimental Infantry Labour Battalions and Infantry Labour Companies, comprising men who were medically rated below the ‘A1’ condition needed for front line service. It grew to some 389,900 men by the Armistice, just under half of which worked in the UK, with those in the employment companies working in the myriad of depots, hospitals, barracks etc providing clerks, sanitary men, cooks, storemen, and other essential duties. He served until demobilisation in February 1919.
Units
- 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Alexandra, Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment) (1914-1917)
- 495th Home Service Employment Company, Labour Corps (1917-1919)
See also
