William arrived in France with the 38th Brigade Royal Field Artillery on the 11/08/1914 and were part of the 6th Division until the Brigade left the division to become an Army Field Artillery Brigade on the 14/01/1917. William was part of "A" Battery, 162nd Brigade, 33rd Division when he fell. William was over 4 years at the front only to be Killed in Action just 2 weeks before the Armistice 4 days after the Division were involved in the Battle of the Selle, 17th - 25th October 1918. This was part of the Final Advance in Picardy, 17th October - 11th November 1918 : The hardest fought of the final offensive actions. First, Third and Fourth Armies exploited their success in breaking the Hindenburg Line by pushing on across the Rivers Selle and Sambre, recapturing Valenciennes and finally in liberating Mons, where it had all begun for the British Expeditionary Force more than four years before. On the 26th October the Division captured Englefontaine and was that night relieved by the 38th (Welsh) Division. There are just 14 men buried in the Croix Churchyard where William lies. 13 are showing on the Churchyard photo. Driver A Coombes (236713) of the Royal Field Artillery is buried on his own (see photos). William is also remembered on the Wishaw and Cambusnethan Roll of Honour book (see photos x 2). One of the grave photos kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. See photo for William's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, Croix Churchyard, William's Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2. his Headstone Report x 2, William's Pension Record, the Royal Field Artillery Cap Badge and 2 more grave photos. William's grave inscription reads "A CHERISHED MEMORY OF ONE SO DEAR IS OFT RECALLED BY A SILENT TEAR".
