Name
William Chamberlain
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
21056 poss 21050
Border Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DANTZIG ALLEY BRITISH CEMETERY, MAMETZ
IX. I. 4.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, War memorial Stevenage (old Town) Stevenage, Herts Trinity Church Roll of Honour, Stevenage, Herts.., Not on Hitchin Memorials,
Pre War
William was born in 1887 in Hitchin to Sarah Chamberlain, a domestic servant. He had an older brother Archie (born 1882) and two younger sisters Annie Elizabeth (born 1891)and Edith (born 1898).On the 1891 Census William with his mother and sister Annie Elizabeth was registered in the Hitchin workhouse on Union St, Hitchin. By the 1911 Census William (aged 14) was a boarder living in Gustard Wood, Wheathampstead with Ann Bennett. On the 1911 Census William was listed at Aldershot with Bedfordshire Regiment.
William enlisted for an engagement of 6 years with the Colours (and 6 years on reserve) on 25 May 1910. Originally he had opted for the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal field Artillery, bur was posted as Private 9619 in the Bedfordshire Regiment with his service now 7 years plus 5 years Reserve. He was at the Depot in Bedford from 26 May to 3 Oct 1910 being posted to 1st Battalion on 4 Oct 1910 j remained with the 1st until being posted to South Africa to join 2nd Battalion on 8 Jan 1913.
Wartime Service
Following the outbreak of the Great War he returned with 2nd Battalion to UK on 12 Sep 1914 and left for France on 5 Oct 1914, landing in Zeebrugge on 7 Oct 1914. The Battalion were involved in fighting to stem the German advance in the Ypres Sector. William was wounded in Chest, and feet, on 9 Nov 1915 and returned to UK on 11 Nov 1914.
During his treatment and recovery his posting was the Bedford Depot from 12 Nov 1914. On 27 Mar 1915 he posted to 3rd( Reserve) Battalion. On 9 Nov 1915 he was transferred to Border Regiment and gained the Service Number 21056.
On 2 Jan 1916 he went to France, joining 2nd Battalion Border Regiment. As part of 7 Division the Borders were engaged in the Capture of Mametz on 1 Jul 1916 (First day of the Somme Battles). It was during this fighting that William was killed.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
