William Clifford Sterry

A Private with the 10th Battalion, William died on 1st of July 1916 at the age of 19.

William was born at Lowestoft in 1897 a son of John William and Esther Susannah Sterry. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 26 March 1897 and his family lived at Whapload Road. In 1901 their address was Robert’s Buildings, Whapload Road. By 1911 they were living at 25 The Hemplands, Lowestoft, and William was an errand boy.

William volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft in 1914. He joined the Essex Regiment and was posted to the 10th Battalion. He arrived in France with the Battalion on France 25 July 1915. 

On the night of 30 June 1916 most of the Battalion were in the trenches of the Carnoy defences. At 7.30 a.m. on 1 July, they went into the attack: 645 men as well as Lewis gun teams. They advanced in support of the 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment and the 6th Royal Berkshire Regiment and during the day various elements of the Battalion were sent to support these battalions at different points, including the Pommier Line. 

Between 24 June and 7 July, the Battalion lost 31 officers and men killed, and 167 wounded.