No. 2855/200712, 4th Battalion Suffolk Regiment who died on 18th August 1916 aged 26.

William has no known grave and is remembered at Thiepval Memorial.

William was born in Grundisburgh, 1891, son of Henry and Emma Adams, and lived at Shoulder of Mutton Cottage, Hasketon.

He died during the Battle of the Somme whilst fighting at High Wood.

Before the war he worked as a ‘Horseman on farm’

Personal details

Williams parents were Henry Adams [B. Grundisburgh, 1864] and Emma Adams (nee. Herring) [B. Bredfield, 1870]. Henry is described as an ‘Ordinary Agricultural Labourer’ in the 1911 Census. 

The 1911 Census lists 3 younger siblings: Herbert Edward [B. Hasketon, 1900], Ethel Mary [B. Hasketon, 1909] and Arthur Edwin [B. Hasketon, 1910].

The 1901 Census records another sister, Alice Mabel [B. Hasketon 1893].  This suggests the family moved to Hasketon shortly after William was born.

War service.

Only military record available for William is the Medal Roll Index, where he is listed as being awarded the Victory and British medal.   The Suffolk Regiment nominal roll notes for William are:  Disembarked Rouen 23rd Jan 1916. Joined D company for duty 4-2-16.  

The 4th Battalion was heavily involved in the Somme campaign during the summer of 1916, sustaining heavy casualties in action on both 15th and 20th of July. William may have been involved in these actions.  Later in August they went into the front line to the East of High Wood, and on the 18th made a successful attack on the German trenches on Wood Lane, but were forced to withdraw when their position became untenable. (The pages on the Battle of the Somme provide more details on this).  William was presumably killed or went missing during this action.