Name
William Douglas MacLean Trimmer
29 Dec 1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/10/1914
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Hampshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT CHURCHYARD
A. 2.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH
UK & Other Memorials
Aldenham School Memorial, Aldenham, Lt W D M Trimmer, Oatlands Park Surrey, St Mary's Church - WW1 Board Oatlands Park Surrey
Pre War
William Douglas Maclean was born 29 Dec 1891 in Surbiton Surrey to Edward Douglas Trimmer (Solicitor) and Mary Kate (nee Maclean).
Educated at Aldenham School and Royal Military College Sandhurst, he was gazetted to 1st Hampshires on 20 Sep 1911 as 2nd Lieutenant and promoted Lieutenant 18 Mar 1914. He was a noted cross country runner both at school and college.
Wartime Service
He left for France 22 Aug 1914 and served throughout the retreat from Mons, The battles of the Aisne and the Marne. He was killed in action, together with his whole platoon defending an advanced and isolated trench at Ploegsteert Wood during the First battle of Ypres on 30 Oct 1914.
J F Gwynne, Medical Officer, Hampshires wrote; ”he died like a hero, and the way he and his men fought to the last is one of the finest acts I have heard of in the whole war. He was found in his trench – game to the last. He must have died immediately on receiving the fatal shot.” Capt. Douglas Johnson 1st Hampshires wrote "On the Aisne he did his work perfectly and I myself was particularly struck with the quiet courage he showed when on really dangerous patrol work. He was far from well there but got better before we moved. When poor Major Connellan was struck, your boy dashed out and brought him into cover , and the next day, he told me about it. It is unnecessary for me to add that he was extraordinarily popular with his men.” And later “he was holding an isolated and advanced trench, losing most of his platoon to heavy shelling and infantry attacks. He sent for reinforcements but there were none to be had. He held his men together and stuck it out being killed by a shell towards evening. The remains of his platoon, about 9 out of 40, were finally overrun and killed by German Infantry although one may have survived having been taken prisoner”.
William lies in Ploegsteert Churchyard.
Additional Information
His father, Mr E D Trimmer of Roughwood, Sandhurst, Berks. ordered his headstone inscription: "FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH"
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Tony James
