Name
William John Champness
28 October 1886
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/07/1918
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
235227
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Territorial Force War, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HAMBURG CEMETERY
VI. B. 7.
Germany
Headstone Inscription
TILL WE MEET AGAIN
UK & Other Memorials
Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial
Pre War
William John Champness was born on 28 October 1886 in Bishop’s Stortford to Henry and Mary Ann Champness, and baptised at St Michael's, Bishop’s Stortford, Herts on 30 Jan 1887.
On the 1891 Census, his mother was on her own with William and his sister Ada in Hadham Road, Bishop’s Stortford and presumably his father died as in 1897 she married Amos Brett in Bishop’s Stortford. On the 1911 Census he was living with his mother and stepfather at Stortford Park Cottages in Bishop’s Stortford and working as a House Painter. He married Mabel Lydia Kekwick in St Stephen's, Tredegar Road, Bow, Tower Hamlets, London, on 1 July 1916 at which time he gave his occupation as 'soldier', and his residence as Newmarket. They had a son, Harold William Robert Charles born 28 December 1916.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Bishop’s Stortford on 7 September 1914 into the 1st Hertfordshire Regiment and was later appointed Lance Corporal . He transferred to the Notts and Derby Regt on 27 July 1916 but remained in England. He was reverted to Private on 8 July 1917 on embarkation to France via Folkestone.
He became ill and was admitted as sick to a field hospital from 4 September but re-joined his unit in the field on 18 September. The following month he suffered a gunshot wound to the buttock, was discharged to a rest camp, then returned to his unit but was soon admitted back to hospital as 'sick' late in November, again returning to the front in late December. He was reported missing on 21 March 1918 having been captured at Bullecourt and taken as a prisoner of war and died of bronchitis whilst still a prisoner.
Additional Information
His widow received a total of £39 0s 2d, which included a war gratuity of £22 10s for herself and their son Harold.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
