William Tripp

A Private with the 1st Battalion, William died on 26th of October 1917 at the age of 20. 

William was born at Blundeston in 1897, a son of James and Rosa Tripp. In 1901 his family lived at Lound Road, Blundeston. By 1911 they were living at Flixton and William was a gardener’s labourer. Later his parents lived at Pond Farm Cottage, Saint Olaves Road, Herringfleet.

William attested for the Army, at Lowestoft, on 15 November 1915 and was placed on the Class B reserve. At the time he was living at Flixton Run, near Lowestoft, and working as a gardener. 

He was called up for active service on 28 March 1916 and joined The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), service number G/11926. William was posted to the 12th (Reserve) Battalion on 29 March 1916. On 1 September 1916 William joined the 97th Training Reserve Battalion, service number TR10/32280.

On 23 September 1916 William was transferred to The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), service number G/17492. He was posted to France and embarked on 24 September 1916 and joined an Infantry Base Depot. He was then posted to the 1st Battalion and joined them, in the field, on 5 October 1916. William served with A Company. 

On 24 October 1917 the 1st Battalion moved into front line positions near Bedford House, with A Company taking over the trenches in, and about, Stirling Castle. On 25 October C and A Companies moved to assembly positions near Stirling Castle. At 4 a.m. on 26 October Band D Companies moved back to allow a barrage to fall just in behind the front line trenches and the battalion formed up in assembly positions. Between 4.30 and 5.30 an enemy barrage of artillery and machine-gun fire caused some casualties. At zero hour, 5.40 a.m., D and B Companies advanced and A Company moved into the positions previously vacated by these companies. The battalion advanced. The two machine-guns that had gone forward with the front waves were blown up, but by 8 a.m. the first objective had been reached. Enemy pill boxes near the Menin Road had held up the advance on 7 Division and C Company was detailed to deal with these. By this time men of A and C Company were holding a line from Menin Road to Sherriabeke. About 5.15 p.m. the enemy counter-attacked at Gheluvelt and a S.O.S. signal went up and a counter-barrage followed, followed by a retaliatory bombardment. During the evening the positions were consolidated, and the battalion was relieved. 

The battalion’s casualties for 26 October were:
Officers: two killed, nine wounded, one missing
Other ranks: 335

William was killed in action on 26 October.