William George Green

A Gunner with C Battery, 331 Brigade, William died on 30th of March 1918 at the age of 22.

William was born at Ipswich in 1895, a son of George Smyth Frank and Ellen Bessie Green. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 18 August 1895. In 1911 his parents, and siblings, lived at Kirkstall, Leeds, and later at 33 Brunswick Road, Norwich. 

In 1901 he lived with his aunt and uncle Elizabeth and William Rose, at 80 Beresford Road. He was still living with them, and at that address, in 1911 when he worked as an apprentice corm merchant.   

William volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Royal Field Artillery, service number 98209. He was posted to France on 29 October 1915.  

William was awarded the Military Medal in 1916 (London Gazette 21/10/1916, page 10218) for his services with A Battery, 65 Brigade. By March 1918 William was serving with C Battery, 331 Brigade.  

The War Diary for C Battery has the following entry for 30 March 1918: Lieutenant Colonel Adams assumed command of [the] Group known as ‘Adams Group’ consisting of batteries as follows C/331 6 guns; C/330 6 guns and D/330 (two howitzers). Group headquarters being established at Villers-Bretonneux. Batteries went into action in immediate vicinity of [the] station at Villers-Bretonneux. During the whole day the enemy endeavoured to advance, two batteries maintained fire on the S.O.S. line throughout the day. The attack on the immediate front (word illegible) of the Group batteries was held up and towards nightfall the firing died down very considerably. During the night harassing fire continued at intervals on S.O.S. lines, reaching as far back as 700 yards in rear of same. 

The battery’s casualties from 21 to 31 March 1918 were:
Officers: three killed; four wounded; three missing
Other ranks: 28 killed; 38 wounded; 31 missing

William was killed in action on 30 March.