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William Findlay, originally from Scotland but living and working in Beverley before he enlisted was killed in action at the Battle of Loos on 25 Sep 1915. His body was not recovered and he is remembered on the Loos Memorial at Loos-en Gohelle, France.
William was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in July 1882. His parents were Alexander and Helen Findlay, his father was employed as a carter. It was a large family, William had four brothers and four sisters. The 1901 census identifies the family living at 16 Urqhuart Place, Aberdeen. Not much is known of his early life but in the 1901 census he is described as an "apprentice clerk".
He was employed by the East Riding County Council based in Beverley as an Assistant Weights and Measures Inspector. In 1914 he was living at 21 Railway Street. His enlistment papers note that he was married but that he "had not seen his wife for 10 years" and "that she had no claim on him." It is not known whether he had any children.
William enlisted in the army in West Hull the 8 Dec 1914, shortly afterwards joining the Gordon Highlanders who were based in Aberdeen. He served as a Lance-Corporal. He was in the 8th Battalion, part of 26th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division. He arrived at Boulogne on 10 May 1915. His army career was not unblemished however, his records show that two weeks before his death he had been "severely reprimanded" for unspecified behaviour.
He was killed on 25 Sep 1915 when his regiment was part of the first major British attack of the war, using Lord Kitchener's New Army. The attack on the German lines at Loos, an area of coal mines and slag heaps, was initially successful but strong German counterattacks allied to shortages of ammunition and the late arrival of British reserve troops meant little overall progress and massive British casualties. The battle also saw the first British use of gas.
William is remembered on the Hengate War Memorial in Beverley and on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |