William was born in Hanley, Staffordshire, in 1895. He moved to Hugglescote in Leicestershire, where he worked in his father’s Botanic Brewery and enjoyed boxing as a hobby. He attended the John the Baptist Church there. William was one of the “First 50” to volunteer for service in Coalville, Leicestershire, at the outbreak of war in 1914.
In 1915, William was stationed to an infamous part of the Ypres Salient, in Belgium, near to Hill 60. While on duty in Trench 50, he was sot through the head and died. This son of Hanley’s name appears on the memorial clock tower of John the Baptist in Hugglescote, Coalville, Leicestershire.
First 50 Heroes
The Coalville Heroes Series celebrates the first fifty volunteers from our area to take part in the Great War of 1914-18. Each geocache commemorates a real volunteer and describes his activities during the Great War.
This cache was placed by sharant with the knowledge of the City council. The GAGB are helping to coordinate this series. Please get in touch if you would like to be involved.