William James Hales

A Private with the 1/4th Battalion, William died on 2nd of November 1916 at the age of 19. 

William was born at Lowestoft in 1897, a son of George and Elizabeth Hales. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church 26 June 1898, and his family lived at 20 Haward Street. In 1901 his family lived at 4 Cumberland Square, and by 1911 at 18 Mariners St. Lowestoft.

William volunteered and enlisted in the Army, at Ipswich. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 3064, and he went to France on 18 April 1915 to join the 1/4th Battalion. Around September 1915 William was wounded, and his name appears in the War Office Daily List of 8 October 1915. Once recovered he continued to serve with the 1/4th Battalion.  

In late October 1916 the 1/4th Battalion moved into trenches east of Les Boeufs. William was wounded at some point between 29 October and 1 November. He was taken to 2/2nd London Casualty Clearing Station where he died from his wounds. 

Note: all records refer to him as William James, other than Commonwealth War Graves which list him as James William.