Name
William Bertram Ilott
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/10/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
27526
Bedfordshire Regiment
4th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 48 to 50 and 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hertford Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Hertford, Christchurch Plaque, now in Holy Trinity Church, Bengeo
Pre War
Born in 1880 in Bengeo, Hertford son of Edmund and Martha Ilott and living in 46 Wellington Street, Hertford in 1891, in St Andrew’s Street, Hertford in 1901.
His father was a bricklayer with his own account whilst William was a brick labourer and then back in Wellington Street in 1911. That census records that his mother was a widow and William was now employed as a bricklayer. as a bricklayer.
It is possible that William may have married Annie E Lemon at the end of 1916 or beginning of 1917.
Wartime Service
Enlisted at Bedford and was sent to Felixstowe where the battalion was providing home defence and drafts for other units. After the disastrous beginning to the 1916 Somme campaign they were sent to France, arriving on 25th July 1916.
They took part in the Ancre campaign on November 13th, attacking German positions with the remainder of the brigade. They suffered heavy casualties and were withdrawn and refitted before being sent back to the line. In 1917 they fought at Miraumont and Arras after which they were withdrawn for training for the next big assault, the 3rd Battle of Ypres. On 30th October they were sent into action in the Second Battle of Passchendaele at 05.30 but only managed to advance about 150 yards when they were held up by boggy and muddy ground and forced to retreat. The battalion suffered around 250 casualties including William.
Acknowledgments
Malcolm Lennox, Terry & Glenis Collins
