| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
William Westerman was born in Beverley in Sep 1883, the son of Arthur Westerman, a rate/tax collector and then a hairdresser, and Elizabeth (nee Carr). In the 1880s and 1890s the family lived at 39 Wednesday Market and then at 16 Eastgate. By 1911 they were living at 69 Walkergate where his mother was a Boarding House Keeper. On leaving school William was employed as a rural postman before becoming a tanner's labourer. In Jul 1908 he married Ada Milner of Beverley, living at 1 George Street. They had two children, George William and Donald Arthur.
William joined up as a private on 12 Sep 1914, enrolling at Scarborough in the 5th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment (the Green Howards). He was promoted to Lance-Corporal, and then Corporal on 13 Jun 1916. He had two spells in France. He left the army in Mar 1919 having served at home for a period. He may have been wounded as on leaving the army he was awarded a disability pension. William was transferred to the Labour Corps as a Corporal before joining the Royal Defence Corps in 1918 where he was promoted to Acting-Sergeant. The RDC had been created in 1916 to guard key installations and military targets such as bridges and ports in the UK. It was composed of soldiers either too old or medically unfit for active front-line service. William was in 154th Protection Company serving in the Northern Region. He was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
William died in Beverley in 1936, Ada died in Mar 1962.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |