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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry



   The 6th (Service) Battalion Somerset Light Infantry was raised at Taunton in August 1914 as part of Kitchener's Army and was attached to 43rd Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. They proceeded to France in May 1915 and served on the Western Front throughout the war. They took part in The Action of Hooge, in which the Division became the first to be attacked by flamethrowers, and The Second Attack on Bellewaarde. In 1916 they fought at Delville Wood and Flers-Courcelette in the Battles of the Somme. In 1917 They were involved in The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Arras Offensive and the Third Battles of Ypres. In 1918 they suffered heavily in The Battle of St Quentin and The Battle of the Avre, due to the heavy casualties the Division was withdrawn to the rear and on the 14th of April 1918 the 6th Somerset Light Infantry formed a composite unit with the 5th Battalion, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, the unit was reduced to cadre strength two weeks later. On the 18th of June they transferred to the 16th Division and returned to England. On the 20th June the 6th Somerset Light Infantry was reconstituted and absorbed 13th Bn, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, they returned to France on the 1st of August 1918, landing at Boulogne, as part of 49th Brigade 16th (Irish) Division and joined Second Army. They were in action in the Final Advance in Flanders.

18th Feb 1915 Training

21st May 1915 On the Move

22nd May 1915 Rest Camp

23rd May 1915 An Arduous March

24th May 1915 On the Move

28th May 1915 On the March

29th May 1915 Inspection

30th May 1915 On the March

31st May 1915 Trench Digging Duties

1st June 1915 Digging Support Trenches  location map

2nd June 1915 Trench Digging Continues

3rd June 1915 Enemy Sniper

4th June 1915 German Shell Fire

5th June 1915 Troops on Skyline Attract Shell Fire

6th June 1915 A Quiet Day  location map

7th June 1915 Casualties

8th June 1915 Trench Digging

9th June 1915 Quiet Day on the Front

10th June 1915 Machine Gun Sent to Trenches

11th June 1915 Orders Received

12th June 1915 Trench Duty  location map

13th June 1915 All Quiet in the Trenches

14th June 1915 Trench Duty Over

15th of June 1915 Return to the Trenches

16th of June 1915 All Quiet

18th of June 1915 Hospital

19th of June 1915 Treacherous Departure from the Trenches

20th of June 1915 New Orders Received

21st Jun 1915 Orders to Attack  location map

21st of June 1915 On Short notice to Move

22nd of June 1915 Orders Received

25th of June 1915 Trench Duty  location map

26th Jun 1915 Shelling  location map

26th of June 1915 A Busy Day

27th of June 1915 Enemy Spy Activity

28th of June 1915 Heavy Enemy Shelling

29th of June 1915 Reliefs  location map

30th of June 1915 In Billets

15th of July 1915 Orders Received  location map

18th of July 1915 Reliefs  location map

19th of July 1915 Courage Under Fire

20th of July 1915 Work Hindered by Enemy Shell Fire

21st of July 1915 Reliefs

22nd of July 1915 Battalion Relieved from Trench Duty

23rd of July 1915 Dugout Improvements

24th of July 1915 Dugout Improvement Continues

25th of July 1915 Heavy Shelling

26th of July 1915 Battalion Moves to Billets  location map

27th of July 1915 Rest Day  location map

28th of July 1915 Battalion Inspected

29th of July 1915 A Quiet Day

30th of July 1915 Stand to Arms

31st of July 1915 Heavy Casualties

1st of August 1915 Battalion Stands To

2nd of August 1915 Continuous Bombardment

3rd of August 1915 Bombardment of Enemy Lines

4th of August 1915 Sniper Activity

5th of August 1915 Reliefs on the Way

6th of August 1915 On the Move

7th of August 1915 Rest Period

10th of August 1915 Reliefs

11th of August 1915 Back in the Trenches

12th of August 1915 Repairing Trenches

13th of August 1915 Enemy Artillery Active

14th of August 1915 Friendly Fire Incident

15th of August 1915 Heavy Action

16th of August 1915 Reliefs

17th of August 1915 Shot for Desertion

20th of August 1915 Orders Received

21st of August 1915 A Rest Period

27th of August 1915 Orders to Move

29th of August 1915 On the Move  location map

30th of August 1915 Woods Evacuated

30th August 1915 Battalion Evacuates the Wood

31st of August 1915 Nothing New to Report

31st August 1915 A Quiet Day

1st September 1915 Trench Duty

2nd September 1915 Heavy Artillery Bombardment

3rd September 1915 In the Trenches

4th September 1915 A Quiet Day on the Front

5th September 1915 Activity Increases on the Front

6th September 1915 Trench Repairs

7th September 1915 Relieved from Trench Duty  location map

14th September 1915 Fatigues and Defence Work

15th September 1915 New Orders Received

16th September 1915 A busy day for the Battalion

17th September 1915 A Quiet Day

18th September 1915 Heavy Artillery Bombardment - Little Damage

19th September 1915 Artillery Active on Both Sides

20th September 1915 Unexpected Trench Relief  location map

21st September 1915 Fatigue Party Sent to Trenches

22nd September 1915 Operational Orders Received

23rd September 1915 Order

23rd September 1915 Commanding Officer Issues New Orders

23rd September 1915 Orders

24th September 1915 On the Move

25th Sep 1915 In Action

25th September 1915 In Action

26th September 1915 Quiet Day

27th September 1915 Enemy Firing Stopped to Allow Wounded to be Brought In

28th September 1915 Relieved from Trench Duty  location map

29th September 1915 Battalion at Rest

30th September 1915 On the Move  location map

3rd October 1915 Orders  location map

4th October 1915 Orders Received

4th October 1915 New Orders Received  location map

4th October 1915 On the Move to St Eloi Trenches  location map

12th October 1915 Guides Allocated to Meet Incoming Battalions  location map

12th October 1915 Brigade Relief Inbound  location map

12th October 1915 Battalion Relief Orders  location map

14th Oct 1915 Reliefs

15th October 1915 Messages

20th October 1915 Enquiry

24th October 1915 Missing Post

1st November 1915 Heavy Rain and Mud

2nd November 1915 New Paths Continue to Sink into the Mud

3rd November 1915 Heavy Rain and Muddy Conditions Hamper Training Efforts

4th November 1915 Advanced Warning Received to Move to Trenches

8th November 1915 Battalion's Efforts Hampered by a Sea of Mud

11th November 1915 Somersets Relieve 7th Rifle Brigade  location map

12th November 1915 Gale Force Winds

13th November 1915 Worsening Weather Impacts Working Parties

14th November 1915 Weather Clearing

15th November 1915 Bad Weather Continues

16th November 1915 Orders Received to Move

17th November 1915 Miserable Weather

18th November 1915 Orders Received to Relieve 71st Infantry Brigade

19th November 1915 Trenches in Poor Repair  location map

20th November 1915 Busy Day in the Trenches

21st November 1915 A Quiet Day in the Cold

22nd November 1915 Cold Weather Continues

23rd November 1915 Releifs  location map

24th November 1915 Reliefs on the Way

25th November 1915 Uncomfortable Billets

26th November 1915 Snow and Freezing Conditions

27th November 1915 Preparing for Inspection

28th November 1915 Freezing Weather

29th November 1915 Quiet Day

30th November 1915 Repairs under gunfire

2nd Mar 1916 Objective Captured

1st Apr 1916 Reliefs  location map

2nd Apr 1916 Shelling  location map

25th Apr 1916 Reliefs  location map

8th May 1916 Reliefs  location map

12th May 1916 Quiet  location map

21st May 1916 Reliefs  location map

22nd May 1916 In the Trenches  location map

3rd Jun 1916 Reliefs  location map

5th Sep 1916 Reliefs  location map

16th Sep 1916 6th Somersets in action  6th Somerset Light Infantry attacked Flers-Courcelette on the Somme at 09:25

11th of April 1917 Reliefs  location map

24th of April 1917 Orders

1st July 1917 Sports recreation

2nd July 1917 Brigade training

3rd July 1917 Range firing practice

4th July 1917 Range firing practice

5th July 1917 Training

6th July 1917 Military training

7th July 1917 Company training

8th July 1917 Warning Order

8th July 1917 Move pending

9th July 1917 Addenda

9th July 1917 Orders

9th July 1917 March Table

9th July 1917 Billeting Party Instructions

9th July 1917 Orders Received

9th July 1917 Operation Oder for Move.

10th July 1917 Amendments to Orders

10th July 1917 Administrative Orders for move

10th July 1917 Instructions

10th july 1917 Orders for Billeting Party

10th July 1917 Operation Order No.120.

10th July 1917 March Table to accompany 43rd Light Infantry Brigade Operational Order 120. Dated July 10th 1917

10th July 1917 Administrative Orders for the Move.  location map

10th July 1917 On the March

10th July 1917 Entraining at Doullens

10th July 1917 Entraining At Candas

11th July 1917 Operation Orders

11th July 1917 Resting

12th July 1917 On the Move

13th July 1917 Inspections

14th July 1917 Parades, physical training

15th July 1917 Church parade

16th July 1917 Drill

17th July 1917 Bayonet fighting, musketry

18th July 1917 Parades

19th July 1917 Brigade concentration march

20th July 1917 Training

21st July 1917 Parades

22nd July 1917 Church & Sport

23rd July 1917 Tactical exercise

24th July 1917 Parades

25th July 1917 Inspection by C.O.

26th July 1917 Inspection by General Plumer

27th July 1917 Parades

28th July 1917 Route march

29th July 1917 Bad weather

30th July 1917 Parades

31st July 1917 Parades

1st August 1917 Weather prevents all activity

2nd August 1917 Intermittent training

3rd August 1917 Bad weather

4th August 1917 Warning order received

5th August 1917 Orders

5th August 1917 Operational Order

5th August 1917 Operational Order 121

5th August 1917 March Table  location map

5th August 1917 Amendment O.O.121

6th August 1917 On the March

7th August 1917 Parades

8th August 1917 Bayonet practice

9th August 1917 Training

10th August 1917 Route March

11th August 1917 Bayonet practice

12th August 1917  Church Parade

13th August 1917  Route March

14th August 1917 Working Party

14th August 1917 Operational Order

14th August 1917 Amendment

14th August 1917 Operational Order 122  location map

14th August 1917 March Table O.O.122  location map

15th August 1917 On the March

16th August 1917 At Rest

17th August 1917 On the Move  location map

17th August 1917 Operational Order  location map

17th August 1917 Operational Order 123  location map

17th August 1917 March Table O.O.123  location map

17th August 1917 Operational Order

17th August 1917 Operational Order 124  location map

18th August 1917 Parades  location map

19th August 1917 Reconnoitre

19th August 1917 Operational Order 125  location map

19th August 1917 Amendment O.O.125  location map

20th August 1917 Relief  location map

20th August 1917 Operational Order  location map

20th August 1917 Map Hooge

20th August 1917 Operational Order 126  location map

20th August 1917 Communications  location map

20th August 1917 Orders

20th August 1917  System of Supply  location map

20th August 1917 Stores & Dumps  location map

21st August 1917 Front line operations  location map

21st August 1917 Operational Order  location map

21st August 1917 Message

22nd August 1917 In Action  location map

22nd. August 1917 Narrative of Operations  location map

23rd August 1917 In Action  location map

24th August 1917 Operations  location map

25th August 1917 On the Move

25th August 1917 Message  location map

25th August 1917 Extract from Operational Order  location map

25th August 1917 Map of Advance

25th August 1917 Transport  location map

26th August 1917 Baths and equipment cleaning

27th August 1917 Kit inspections

27th September 1917 Relief Table for O.O.133  location map

28th August 1917 New clothing

28th August 1917 Operational Order  location map

29th August 1917 New billets  location map

29th August 1917 Operational Order  location map

29th August 1917 Operational Order 128

29th August 1917 March Table   location map

29th August 1917 Instructions for Move.  location map

30th August 1917  Parades

31st August 1917 Congratulations

1st September 1917 Commanding Officer inspection

2nd September 1917 Brigade move warning

2nd September 1917 Brigade move warning

3rd September 1917 Fighting and platoon drill.

3rd September 1917 Operational Order

3rd September 1917 Operational Order

3rd September 1917 Orders  location map

4th September 1917 On the March  location map

5th September 1917 Regimental classes

6th September 1917 Snipers on range

7th September 1917 Respirator Inspection

8th September 1917 Bathing

9th September 1917 Recce of Defences

10th September 1917 Band and Bugles bathed

11th September 1917 Ranges  location map

12th September 1917 Working Parties

13th September 1917 Working Parties

13th September 1917 Operational Order 130  location map

13th September 1917 March Table   location map

14th September 1917 Training

14th September 1917 Operational Order

14th September 1917 Operational Order  location map

15th September 1917 On the March

16th September 1917 C.O.Inspection

17th September 1917  Working parties & training

18th September 1917  Working parties & training

19th September 1917 Training - Work parties

20th September 1917 Orders

20th September 1917 Operational Order 131

20th September 1917 Battalion reliefs as O.O.

21st September 1917 Work parties

22nd September 1917 Quiet night  location map

23rd September 1917 Defence Scheme

23rd September 1917 Quiet night again. Work parties

24th September 1917 Operational Order

24th September 1917 Relief orders received

25th September 1917  Trench repairs

26th September 1917 Trench work

27th September 1917 Operational Order 133  location map

27th September 1917 Relief Table for O.O.133  location map

27th September 1917 Operational Order received

28th September 1917 Insructions  location map

28th September 1917 Amendment

28th September 1917 At ready  location map

29th September 1917 New Camp  location map

30th September 1917 Church Parade  location map

25th Mar 1918 Fierce Attack

13th Sep 1918 6th Somersets in action  6th Bn Somerset Light Infantry involved in action in the field at Auchy-Lez-Bassee.

29th August 1915 Battalion Departs Watou  location map

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.





Want to know more about 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry ?


There are:5544 items tagged 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry available in our Library

  These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.


Those known to have served with

6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

during the Great War 1914-1918.

  • Adams Charles Edward. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
  • Adams Charles Edward. Pte. (d.16th Sep 1916)
  • Barrett William. Pte. (d.23rd April 1916)
  • Bawdon Ernest. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
  • Bayes Percy Frederick George. Pte. (d.6th June 1918)
  • Brace Douglas. Pte. (d.28th Sep 1916)
  • Bullock Thomas Henry. L/Cpl. (d.16th September 1916)
  • Burfield William Thomas Riley. Pte.
  • Carcary Arthur Henry. Pte. (d.6th July 1915)
  • Carswell Thomas. Pte.
  • Clift Charles George. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
  • Conlon John. Pte. (d.22nd Oct 1917)
  • Davies Bertam Nixon. L/Cpl. (d.11th of September 1918)
  • Durnford Henry Charles. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
  • Ellis William Henry. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918)
  • Evans Joseph Henry. Pte. (d.22nd Aug 1917)
  • Garland James Henry Hill. Pte.
  • Griffin Arthur. Pte.
  • Hancock Albert Herbert. Pte. (d.13th May 1918)
  • Harrison Herbert C.. Pte. (d.27th Aug 1917)
  • Hewlett William. Sgt.
  • Hobbs MID Victor. Sgt.
  • Horton John Henry. Pte. (d.25th September 1915)
  • Jefferies Alfred L.. Pte. (d.1st Nov 1916)
  • Lenthall Frederick William . Pte. (d.19th July 1915)
  • Mackmurdo James Harold. Pte.
  • Mail William James. Pte. (d.20th Sept 1916 )
  • Maughan Robert. L/Cpl. (d.16th September 1916)
  • McMurtie G. D. J.. Capt.
  • Miller Maurice Epton. Pte. (d.21st Mar 1918)
  • Milton Joseph John. Pte. (d.16th Sept 1916)
  • Newsum Henry George. Pte. (d.23rd October 1917)
  • Nunn Walter Francis. Pte.
  • Osment John James. Pte. (d.18th Aug 1916)
  • Parker Edwin John. Sgt.
  • Phillips Louis. Pte. (d.19th Aug 1915)
  • Poole Thomas Henry. Pte.
  • Price Harold Percy. Pte. (d.25th May 1918)
  • Roberts Robert A. Sgt. (d.16th Sep 1916)
  • Rogers Edwin. Pte. (d.24th Oct 1917)
  • Rowles Ernest Albert. Pte. (d.5th March 1917)
  • Sansom Ancel Croydon. Pte. (d.18th January 1917)
  • Simmons Samuel Frederick. Pte. (d.28th Sep 1916)
  • Skrine Henry Langton. Capt. (d.25th Sep 1915)
  • Stephens Alfred Thorn. Pte. (d.23rd Apr 1918)
  • Tavener George William. Pte. (d.22nd Aug 1916)
  • Titheridge Walter J.. Pte. (d.11th May 1918)
  • Upshall Theophilus. Pte. (d.16th September 1916)
  • Warman John. Pte. (d.21st May 1917)
  • Welsford Ernest George. Pte. (d.24th August 1916)
  • Wilson John. Pte. (d.11th April 1917)

All names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

Records of 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry from other sources.


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  Pte. John Conlon 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.22nd Oct 1917)

John Conlon married Ethel Cartwright in March 1917, his marriage certificate states he was serving with the 4th Training Reserve Battalion, Hampshire Regiment at that time. He served on the Western Front with the 6th Somerset Light Infantry and lost his life at the 3rd Battle of Ypres. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Thomas Parry






  Pte. Charles Edward Adams 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th Sep 1916)

Charles Adams was my great-grandfather. He died at the age of 29, leaving behind a wife and three children, the youngest of whom was my grandfather who was only seven months old. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Louise Vippond






  Pte. Charles Edward Adams 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th Sep 1916)

Charles Adams was my great-grandfather. He died at the age of 29 leaving behind a wife and three children, the youngest of whom was my grandfather who was only seven months old. He is buried in Thiepval, Somme in France.

Louise Vippond






  L/Cpl. Robert Maughan 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th September 1916)

Robert Maughan

Robert Maughan was born in 1893. He was the first born of the family. He was an ex coal miner from Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland.

Stuart McCloud






  Pte. Frederick William Lenthall 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.19th July 1915)

Frederick Lenthall was a distant relative of Australian Lenthall's living in Sydney, we only found out about him when visiting the Bedford House Cemetery.

Bryan Lenthall






  L/Cpl. Bertam Nixon Davies 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.11th of September 1918)

Bertram Davies was the husband of Dorothea Broscomb. I found the information about him, rank, etc., on an Islington web site. He served with the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry in WW1. He died 11th of September 1918 aged 40 years and is buried Cambrin Military Cemetery in France.

Anthony Broscmb






  Pte. Thomas Carswell 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry

Thomas Carswell was taken POW at Jussy, France in 1918.







  Pte. Ernest George Welsford 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.24th August 1916)

Ernest Welsford was one of four members of the Welsford family of Wells. The others were his father, brother and a cousin. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

Eric Galvin






  Pte. James Harold Mackmurdo 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

James Mackmurdo was not a relative of mine but he did write in my grandmother's autograph book and signed as can be seen in the photograph. This was in June of 1917 at Matlock in Derbyshire maybe he was training nearby or just passing through I do not know.

Colin Lunt






  Pte. Walter Francis Nunn 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

Walter Nunn served with 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. He was awarded the Victory and British War medals.

Bruce






  Pte. Henry George Newsum 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.23rd October 1917)

My uncle Henry Newsum served in WW1 with Northamptonshire Regiment 24536, The Wiltshire Regiment 203518, and Prince Albert's Somerset Light Infantry 204281. He was injured twice and was killed in action in Flanders on 23rd October 1917 whilst serving with the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.

He is remembered in: St Michael's & All Angels Church Walthamstow, St Martin's Chapel, Wells Cathedral and on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.

J H Wells






  Pte. William Barrett 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.23rd April 1916)

William Barrett is my great grandfather. He worked as a glass blower in a bottle factory in Bristol, before joining up in August 1914. Serving as Private 10241 of the 6th (Service) Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, his unit sailed to France on 21st May 1915. He was wounded at the Second Battle of Bellewaarde, a diversionary attack to the east of Ypres for the larger offensive at Loos between 25th and 28th September 1915.

William was evacuated back to the UK and on recovery was re-deployed to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, Pte 16207. The Battalion he was to have joined was already besieged at Kut Al Amara in Mesopotamia (Iraq). William was part of a group of reinforcements attempting to break through and relieve the British forces trapped in Kut. The last attempt to break through the Turkish lines was the Battle of Sanniyat. British artillery had failed to keep the Turkish troops away from their lines, who were able to fire directly into the advancing British forces struggling over open and flooded ground. Their attack failed with terrible losses. Kut surrendered on 22nd April 1916.

William died from wounds on 23rd of April 1916, leaving his wife Sarah and daughter (my grandmother) Florence aged 6.

Chris






  Pte. Harold Percy Price 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.25th May 1918)

Harold Price served with 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry.

Mike Jackson






  Pte. William Henry Ellis 6th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry (d.21st Mar 1918)

William Ellis fought at the Somme, he was registered missing, presumed dead. His Widow was paid £21.

Katy Wheatley






  L/Cpl. Thomas Henry Bullock 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th September 1916)

I found Thomas Bullock's death plaque and did some research to find he died during the Battle of the Somme - the attack on Gird Trench on 16th September 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. I do not have any further information. Maybe someone else does?

Karen






  Pte. Percy Frederick George Bayes 6th Btn Somerset Light Infantry (d.6th June 1918)

Percy Bayes was a joiner in peacetime. He was known to be in a Construction Corps and served with the 6th Somerset Light Infantry based at Montrescourt. He was captured at Moy de l'Aisne on 21st of May 1918 during the German attack called Operation Michael and died as a POW at German Military Hospital 21D. He was buried at Bohain then re-buried in the 1920's at Premont Military Cemetery.







  Pte. Ernest Bawdon 6th Btn. Somerset Light Infantry (d.16th September 1916)

Ernest Bawdon is my third cousin. He was shot by a German sniper whilst tending to an injured officer in no-man's-land on 16th September 1916.

Neil Bawdon






  Pte. John Henry "Mad Jack" Horton 6th Btn., "D" Coy. Somerset Light Infantry (d.25th September 1915)

John Henry `Mad Jack' Horton was my great grandfather and was a glass blower by trade. His name is amongst many of his Battalion on the Menin Gate Memorial.

John Morgan






  Pte. John Warman 6th Btn. (d.21st May 1917)

John Warman enlisted in the London Regiment and went on to served with the 6th Somerset Light Infantry.

All






  Pte. William Thomas Riley Burfield 6th Btn., D Coy. Somerset Light Infantry

William Burfield was born on 1st of October 1877 in Blaenavon in Wales, but moved to Taunton (and later Yeovil) as a boy with his family. In 1903 he married (Florence) Ethel Hockey in Norton-sub-Hamden and they had five children: Wilfred b.1903, Daisy b.1906, Leslie b.1910, Nora b.1914 and (Stanley) Norman b.1919.

William was a painter and decorator by trade and signed up for the Yeovil Territorials before WW1 started. The Yeovil Territorials were incorporated into the 6th Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry when war broke out and, despite already being 37 years old, William joined up (he may have lied about his age and claimed to be 34 in 1914 and not 37 as he really was). William was a very fit man for his age and he first saw action in France in August 1915 in D company, and he fought on the Western front for two years before being invalided out of the Somerset Light Infantry in August 1917 at Ypres at the age of 39.

Thereafter he served out his time in the Labour Corps before returning home to Montacute where he died of pneumonia on 1st March 1921, aged just 43. According to his son Wilfred, William's lungs were damaged in the Great War (presumably by gas) and this may have been a contributory factor in his death at what was a relatively young age.

John Burfield






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