Name
William Williamson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/08/1916
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sergeant Major
5444
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POTIJZE CHATEAU WOOD CEMETERY
A.27
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
Royston Town War Memorial
Not on the Baldock memorials
Pre War
Son of the late William and Rhoda Selina Williamson, of Baldock, Herts. He had served in the Army for 17 years and had been wounded in the Dardanelles campaign.
Wartime Service
On the night of the 8th/9th August 1916 the Battalion were in trenches at Potijze, on the outskirts of Ypres. They were subjected to a gas attack that came in two waves. The gas was particularly nasty, and is described as “corroding any exposed metal and killing both birds and rats”. The battalion suffered 125 men killed and 100 wounded in the attack.
Additional Information
His brother, Alfred Williamson, was killed in action on the 25th September 1915, whilst serving with the Middlesex Regiment. He is buried in the Cambrin Churchyard Extension, France.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Pitts, Paul Johnson
