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2nd Lt. William Glass
British Army 6th Btn. Black Watch
from:Belfast
(d.23rd April 1917)
William Glass was born in Belfast and worked for Barker & Dobson, the confectionery firm. He married Harriet Phoebe Sheeran (1886-1960. They lived in Glengormley, Belfast, where their four sons were born.
He was one of the old Scotch Volunteers and was one of those instrumental in forming groups of Volunteers for the 6th Battalion Black Watch Territorial Force, in which he served as a private and non-commissioned officer. He took a keen interest in welfare of boys and was identified with the Boys Brigade, serving with McClure St Sabbath School of Fitzroy Avenue Church. He organised a company of the B.B. at Balmoral Industrial School. He was one of the original Y.C.V. members and on the formation of the U.V.F. he acted as honorary drill instructor for several city companies.
With the outbreak of war in 1914, William was commissioned into the Black Watch regiment and stationed in the East of Scotland. In 1916 he received his commission and proceeded to France. Lieutenant Glass was killed in action on 23rd April 1917 near Souchez, Pas de Calais and lies buried in the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery at Arras in Northern France. In a letter from his colonel it was stated that he fell while leading his men into action. He died aged 36.
War diary extract: Monday, 23rd April 1917. A Black Monday. The Brigade was to jump off astride the Cambrai Road which ran diagonally across our front. Scots on left, Argylls on right with a creeping barrage. An echelon type of attack. Up at 4.30 to see the strafe (from Bn. H.Q. about 800 yards behind the front line). Loud and heavy firing. Noticed loud and terribly ominous, quick and heavy retaliation on to our front line - and feared the worst. Then the usual rumours began. Ferguson of 'A' Coy. back wounded and with bad news. C.O. would not let me go forward to see what was happening. He allowed Muirhead to go instead. Muirhead got a very bad time of it. Our attack was a failure. The barrage was too fast and of the wrong nature and our men were mown down by guns and by M.G. fire. All the officers except Tobermory, A.G.Cameron and G.H.Mitchell were either killed or wounded.
