William James Foreman

A Corporal with the 16th Battalion, William died on 2nd of February 1917 at the age of 24. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 5 April 1892, a son of William Emmanuel and Emily Foreman. He was baptised at Saint Michael’s Church, Oulton, on 15 May 1892, and his family lived at Kirkley. By 1896 their address was 20 Lorne Park Road, and this was still their home in 1901. William is believed to have attended Kirkley School, from 1 June 1897, and, from 23 April 1906, was a pupil at Cunningham School. By 1911 his family were living at 4 Wivenoe Cottages, Florence Road, and William was a general labourer. 

William volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the 16th (Service) Battalion (Church Lad's Brigade) King’s Royal Rifle Corps, service number C/442. William's battalion was made up of current and former members of the Church Lad's Brigade and volunteers for that battalion came from all over Britain. He arrived in France, with the battalion, on 16 November 1915.

In late January and early February 1917, the 16th Battalion were at Clery-sur-Somme, near Bray. We do not know exactly when, or how, William was wounded, but given that he is buried at Bray, which was the location of a number of casualty clearing stations, it is likely that he was taken to Bray for treatment and he died of his wounds there.

William's brother Frederick served with the Suffolk Regiment and died in 1916. William’s headstone bears the inscription ‘My brother and I’.

Note: on some military records William is listed as James William.