William Robert Brown

A Lance Corporal with 1st Bn., William died on 8th of May 1915 at the age of 26. 

William was born at Ashby, Suffolk, on 18 April 1889, a son of Benjamin and Martha Brown. Note that birth registration indexes, the baptism records at Saint Mary's Church, Ashby, and the 1891 Census give his names as Robert William. He was baptised at Saint Mary's Church, Ashby, on 15 June 1889. In 1891 his family lived near The Hall, Ashby. In 1901 his family lived at Herringfleet Road, Herringfleet. By 1911 their home was at White House Cottage, Herringfleet, and later they lived at 4 Widows Cottages, The Street, Somerleyton.

William enlisted in the Army in 1910. He joined the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. In 1911 he was serving with the 2nd Battalion at Cork. 

On 15 January 1915 William arrived in France with the 1st Battalion. He served with D Company. 

On 8 May 1915 the 1st Battalion were in trenches at Friezenberg. The Battalion War Diary for that day reads:

Trenches heavily shelled with high explosive: this was followed by a German attack. C and D Companies were shelled out of their trenches. 

The Battalion lost 53 officers and men killed, 92 wounded, and 272 missing.

William was reported missing on 8 May. By May 1916 it was concluded that he had been killed in action on that date.

William's brother, Albert, died in 1918 whilst serving with the Royal Navy.