William Cheney

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, William died on 28th of March 1918 at the age of 30. 

William was born at Carlton Colville on 3 January 1888, a son of Robert and Sarah Cheney. In 1891 his family lived at Marsh Lane, Carlton Colville, and this was still their address in 1901 when William worked as a stock feeder on a farm. Later his parents lived at White House Farm, Carlton Colville. 

On 29 January 1911 William married Lydia Knights at Saint Peter’s Church, Carlton Colville. William was a fisherman and they both lived at Carlton Colville. In 1911 their home was at The Street, Oulton. In 1912 they lived at 9 Mill Road, Oulton Broad, and by 1913 they lived at Marsh Lane, Carlton Colville. In 1919 Lydia married Alfred Roffe.

William joined the Royal Naval Reserve on 5 February 1912, but was discharged shortly afterwards as he had an inguinal hernia. 

William enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Essex Regiment, service number 400729, and served, initially, with the 17th Battalion. William was posted to France to join the 2nd Battalion and served with D Company.  

In March 1918 the 2nd Battalion were in positions near Arras, moving into the front line on 24 March. At 3 p.m. on 28 March a heavy hostile enemy bombardment commenced on the front, support, and reserve lines as well as the rear areas. The bombardment continued for several hours and all communication wires were cut. At 7.05 a.m. the enemy could be seen massing in large numbers. At 7.15 a.m. all companies sent up S.O.S. rockets. By 7.35 a.m. there was severe fighting in the support and reserve lines. At 7.40 a.m. the enemy broke through on both flanks and advanced down Chili Trench toward battalion headquarters. At the junction of Chili, Harry and Hussar trenches about 35 men formed a strong point to check the enemy advance. The remaining men of the battalion came under command of the 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers. 

The battalion’s casualties on 28 March were:
Officers: three missing believed killed; eight missing; one missing believed prisoner; one wounded
Other ranks: 15 killed; 1 missing believed killed; 342 missing; 5 wounded and missing; 1 gassed; 49 wounded; five gassed to Field Ambulances

William was reported missing on 28 March and later presumed to have been killed in action on, or since, that date.