Name
William Lacey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/04/1918
18
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
36042
Gloucestershire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 72 to 75.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin Church, Clothall
Pre War
William was born in Clothall in 1900 (baptised on 11 Jun 1900), the son of John Lacey, a labourer, and Jane (nee Smith). The family had moved from 9, Prospect Terrace, Baldock, and were living at Hickman’s Hill, Clothall.
The 1901 Census records the family as parents, sister Dorothy and brothers Raymond and William at Hickman’s Hill. William’s mother died in 1904, but the family remained in Hickman's Hill on the 1911 Census when William (now 11) was living with his widowed father, now a stockman on farm, Dorothea as housekeeper (Dorothy on record), Raymond, at 15 working at farm (Ernest on record), and Marjorie who had been born in 1902.
Wartime Service
William was enlisted in the Gloucestershire Regiment as Private 36042. He could have been conscripted soon after or on his 18th birthday some time in spring 1917 and following training posted to 8th (Service) Battalion. This Battalion had been in France since July 1915 and were positioned as a unit of 19 (Western) Division in the South Ypres area in 1918.
On 7 Apr 1918 the German offensive ‘Georgette’ was launched intending the break the British lines north of Ypres and advance to capture Hazebrouck, a railway centre and drive on to the Channel coast. On 10 Apr 1918 a second thrust (the Battle of the Lys) was made in the Armentieres area, mainly against 19 (Western) Division.
The 19 (Western) Divisional history has an entry referring to the Battle of the Lys - “A new reserve line was now being established and was filled by 700 surplus personnel composed of recent drafts .These drafts consisted mainly of young and untried troops who had come out to France for the first time; many of them were mere boys – the last reinforcements possible from England. It was a rough introduction to warfare, to be thrust without any previous knowledge or experience into the very thick of a terrific battle, but they were stout-hearted and on the whole did splendid service’’.
William was killed in action between 9 April and 18 April 1918 during Operation Georgette, which was directed at Lys, part of the second phase of the German Spring offensive. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. A brief mention in a Hertfordshire Express article on 11th of May 1918 reports that "he was one of a party of ten among whom a shell fell, killing eight of them."
His remains were not recovered and so William is remembered on The Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £3 3s 6d. He also received a pension of 6 shillings a week.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jean Handley, Jonty Wild
