| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
William was born the 16 Oct 1888, the son of the late W O Montgomery and Mrs Emily Hulse of Hornsea and the stepson of Henry Hulse a master builder in Hull and was one of seven children. He was a stock broker’s clerk when he joined the Army in Dec 1915.
He served as a Lieutenant (acting Captain) with the 13th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment, attached to the 92nd Field Trench Mortar, winning the Victory Medal and British Medal.
In Sep 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross after being “Mentioned in Despatches” for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. ‘Having been in charge of a section of trench mortars which had been reduced to just 3 men, they were eventually cut off from the remainder of the battery. They took up a good position and with accurate fire on the enemy, delayed their advance. Finally, when completely surrounded and with only one officer left from the whole section, they broke through the enemy lines and regained their own lines. He set a fine example of coolness and courage to his men, under very adverse circumstances and held up the enemies advance at a crucial time.’
Later in September he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross for a daring daylight patrol. ‘He went out voluntarily and penetrated the enemy lines to a considerable depth, locating enemy posts, strength and defences at a time when the sector was very obscure. At one point he encountered 2 of the enemy and shot one with his revolver, the other escaping. He did fine work’.
In 1917 he married Maud Watts and they had two sons Michael and Antony, Maud died in 1938. William continued to live Hornsea and worked as a builders merchants clerk and died in Hull 1959 aged 70.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |