| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information
William was born the 13 May 1894 and baptised in Jun 1894 at St Mary's church, Beverley, to James and Alice Phoebe Barker Batty, who married 25 December 1890 at St Nicholas Church, Beverley. The family lived in Wood Lane, James was a wood carver working for Elwell and Sons before changing occupation and becoming the newsagent, stationer and tobacconist at 20 North Bar Within for 40 years. William’s mother Alice died in April 1903 when William was 8 and the following year his father married Clara Cox, a London born cousin named on the 1901 Census who was living with the family. On the 1911 Census William is registered as an assistant in the newsagents shop living with James and Clara, sister Cissie and half-siblings Muriel, Neville, Archibald and Lucius.
William was a Beverley Church Lads Brigade 2nd Lieutenant and at the 19 year age limit he left with a record of exemplary conduct. According to the Church Lads Brigade records, he enlisted with the Territorials (cyclists) in Oct 1912 and arrived in France on 13 Apr 1915 with the 4th Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment, attached to the Royal Engineers. William was moved from 39th Casualty Clearing Station to hospital in Etaples in Jul 1916 suffering from mumps. At some point he was transferred from the Yorkshire & Lancashire Regiment and it’s possible that following his release from hospital he joined the 11th Manchesters who had arrived in France from Egypt around this time. William served with the 11th Manchesters in Northern France and Belgium for the remainder of the war and returned home entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals.
In early summer 1928 William died his address at the time of his death was 72 Flaxley Road, Selby, his body was returned to Beverley and his burial took place at St Mary’s Church on 4 Jun 1928. He was 34 years old.
William’s name appears on the Roll of Honour for his service as an NCO with the Church Lads Brigade. The plaque can be found at the Church Lads and Church Girls Brigade premises in George Street, Beverley.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |