Name
William Payne
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/08/1917
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
21015
Border Regiment
1st Battalion
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 85 to 86.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on Wheathampstead memorial, We are not aware of Streatley Memorials, Not on Luton memorials,
Pre War
William was born in 1891in Streatley, Luton, Beds., the eldest son of George Payne, a shepherd, and Caroline (nee Northwood). On the 1891 census the family of Parents, older sisters Alice (born 1887), Lily (born 1889) and William were living at High Street, Streatley.
Nothing of William and his family could be found on 1901 Census.
On the 1911 Census the family were living at Upper Beech Hyde, Sandridge, St Albans and consisted of parents, William, a shepherd, Harry, (born 1895, a farm labourer), Mary (born 1897), George (born 1899) and Joseph (born 1901).
William’s parents came to live at Coleman Green, Wheathampstead, Herts.
Wartime Service
William attested in Bedford on 16 Nov 1914 as Private 17998 Bedfordshire Regiment and was posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion on 29 Nov 1914. Following his training he went to France on 8 Jun 1915 to join 2nd Battalion, a unit of 7 Division, in the field. William was wounded (Gunshot wound Right shoulder) during the Battle of Loos and was returned to UK on 29 Sep 15.
During his recovery he was transferred to the Border Regiment on 9 Nov 15 and returned to France on 1 Jan 1916 as Private 10/21015 joining 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment on 18 Jan 1916. He was wounded (shrapnel to face) on 4 Sep 16 during the Battle of Guiilemont, Somme, (3-6 Sep 1916) passed through 38 Casualty Clearing Station on 6 Sep 1916 and 10 General Hospital Rouen on 10 Sep 1916 before being evacuated to UK on 10 Sep 1916. On 16 Mar 1917 he was posted to 3rd (Reserve) Battalion until on 24 May 1917 when he again returned to France and following a spell at Infantry Base Depot joined 1st Battalion, Border Regiment on 10 Jun 1917.
He was the subject of a Field Court Martial on 8 Jul 1917 for the offence of ‘Sleeping on Duty’ and although found guilty and sentenced to 5 years servitude, this was suspended on 13 Jul 1917.
The Battles known as 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele) began on 31 Jul 1917 and William was reported missing after action on 16 Aug 1917 (Battle of Langemarck, 16-18 Aug 1918) and his death accepted as 16 Aug 1917 on 5 Nov 1917. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £13 and arrears of £13 5s 11d was paid to his mother Caroline.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
