British War Medal
Little is known about William’s military service. The only current evidence is his Medal Index Card and Medal Roll showing he was awarded the British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal. He did not receive a 1914 or 1914-15 Star, suggesting he did not serve overseas before January 1916.
William’s regimental number, 304029, forms part of a series allocated to the 8th (Territorial) Battalion in February 1917. This suggests he enlisted in the Territorials and may have trained with the 2/8th or 3/8th Battalions. The 6 digit number on the Medal Roll may provide evidence of overseas service after February 1917 although this is not definite as the original numbers are not always shown on the Roll.
William did serve overseas with the 21st Battalion. It was common for men to be transferred to regular or service battalions after mid-1916. This Battalion was originally the 6th City or Pals Battalion. It served in the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and Arras in 1917, moving to Italy in November 1917 and returning to France in September 1918.
William survived the war but details about his later life remain unknown. Of the two medals awarded to him only the British War Medal is known to have survived. It was handed into Stretford Police Station and transferred to the museum collections in 2013 after efforts to trace his relatives proved unsuccessful.
