William Henry Free Masterson

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, William Henry died on 28th of April 1917 at the age of 28. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 21 January 1889, a son of Frederick and Annie Maria Masterson. He was baptised at Christchurch, Lowestoft, on 28 July 1889, and his family lived at 4 London Road, Kirkley, and this was still their home in 1891. By 1901 they were living at 164 London Road, and this was still their home in 1911 when William worked as a tailor, probably with his father. 

On 5 September 1915 William married Kathleen Marion Reynolds at Christchurch, Lowestoft. William was a tailor living at 164 London Road and Kathleen at Dene Lodge, Whapload Road. Later Kathleen lived at The Elms, Gordon Road. 

William enlisted in the Army at Bury St. Edmunds. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 34577, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion in France. He served with W Company.

By 23 April 1917 the 2nd Battalion were in Corps reserve at Arras. The next day they moved to Shrapnel and Pick trenches. These trenches had been heavily shelled rendered useless. The battalion war diary states that on 28 April two officers were wounded, one man killed, four men wounded, and one man reported missing. 

William was reported missing on 28 April. His body was found at map reference 51.B.0.9d.1.7. By 1920 he had been buried at Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery.