Name
William Batchelor
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/08/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
235038
Lincolnshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 35 to 37 and 162 to 162A.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead,
John Dickinson & Co Memorial, Apsley Mills, Apsley,
Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
William Batchelor (known as Willie) was born in Hemel Hempstead in 1893, the son of Isaac and Sarah Batchelor and one of nine children. He was baptised at St Paul's Church in Hemel Hempstead on 19 March 1893.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 12 Church Street, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working as a general labourer.
William left school in 1905 and started work with John Dickinson & Co Ltd in Apsley Mills as a Band Cutter. He met Laura Bilby who also worked there and in 1914 they were married with their daughter Dorothy being born on 7 October 1914.
Widow lived at 17 Chapel Street, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
Willie was called up and enlisted in Hertford in December 1915, joining the Hertfordshire Regiment under reg. no. 4956. He was sent for basic training and went to France in June 1917, being posted to the 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment. He joined the regiment on 12 June and they marched to Flanders, taking up new positions at Lindenhoek, near Ypres. He saw his first major action at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, a costly battle for the Battalion which lost 177 men.
In early August 1917 the Battalion rested but were back in the trenches from the 15th and were subjected to constant German shellfire, resulting in daily casualties. Willie was one of 34 men killed, wounded or missing on 16 August 1917.
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. He was 24 years old when he died.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £9 10s and pay owing of £0 1s 2d. She also received a pension of 18s 9d for herself and her daughter.
His brother-in-law (Joseph) Edward Bilby who served with the Hertfordshire Regiment, was killed at Ypres two weeks before William.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.hemelheroes.com.
