Name
William Herbert Tippetts
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/07/1917
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
277119
Manchester Regiment
2/7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
COXYDE MILITARY CEMETERY
I. L. 52.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Abbots Langley Village Memorial, St. Lawrence Church Memorial, Abbots Langley
Biography
It has not been possible to identify William Tippetts’ association with Abbots Langley. He was born in 1898 in Keswick, Cumberland, and was the elder son of John Tippetts, a Boot Repairer, and Mary Elizabeth Tippetts. The couple had a second son, Charles Edwin in 1902 and in the 1911 Census the family was living at 19 Ross Street Ardwick, Manchester.
The Soldiers Died in the Great War archives noted that William was living in Walthamstow at the time he enlisted. In the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour William was recorded serving with the 7th Manchester’s from December 1916 and in September 1917 his death was recorded. William was buried at Coxyde Military Cemetery, which was several miles behind the Front Lines, and was situated on the Belgian Coast. It was used at night for the burial of the dead brought back from the Front Line.
The War Diary for the 7th Manchester’s recorded that on 23rd July 1917, the battalion was brought from their rest camp at Camp Lefevre at Oost Dunkerke Bains to the Nieuport Reserve Trench where they relieved the 4th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. They came under bombardment and suffered many casualties. Six Other Ranks were killed (presumably William Tippetts amongst them). Three Other Ranks died from gas. Four Other Ranks were wounded, and fourteen Other Ranks were wounded by the gas, and one Other Ranks was missing.
The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Magazine reported that William died on 28th July, however the records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Soldiers Died in the Great War archives and the Army Medal Roll all confirm he died on 23rd July 1917. In September the Parish Magazine recorded
“William Herbert Tippetts, of the Manchester Regiment, was killed in action on July 28th (sic). His Chaplain, writing of him, says that he had just lately been confirmed, and had made his first Communion.”
William Tippetts was buried at Coxyde Military Cemetery, Koksiide, Belgium, and was commemorated on the Abbots Langley War Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
