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Fallen Soldiers
​

William WELSBY



Regiment
Rank / Number
Date of Birth
Date of Death
Grave / Memorial
Rainhill remembers on . . .
King's Liverpool Regiment
Rifleman/Signaller / 84963
1898
17th September 1918 aged 20
St. Sever Cemetery Extension
Brass Plaque St. Ann's Church
St. Ann's War Memorial
Warrington Road Cenotaph

Prescot Grammar School Memorial
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William Welsby was the first child of William and Frances May, born in June 1898 in Rainhill. The family lived at 8, Market Street, where his father was a shopkeeper butcher. By 1911 he had three brothers, Ernest, Harry and John. William attended Prescot Grammar School and before the age of 20 joined the army. He became Rifleman 84963 (Signaller) of the 2nd and then 6th Battalion, the King’s Liverpool Regiment. Formerly M/286875, Royal Army Service Corps (MT).

William was the cousin of Samuel Welsby who had joined the army at about the same time and lived three houses further along Market Street.


PictureReproduced with kind permission of Margaret Bibby
William was aged only 20 when he died of wounds sustained at Riencourt, France. It is likely that Private Welsby was wounded as a result of a gas attack when attacking Riencourt. This was a successful attack with all objectives being met and some 650 German prisoners being taken. It cost the lives of 114 Ordinary Ranks. 

William is buried in the British War St Sever Cemetery Extension R. II. Rouen. During the War, Commonwealth Camps, Hospital Bases, depots and general HQ were stationed south of Rouen. All the 11 hospitals remained there for the whole war and the majority of men who died in them were buried in St Sever Cemetery.

Medal entitlement: - British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Picture
The CWGC gravestone of William Welsby in St. Sever Cemetery, France
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The official information supplied to visitore at St. Sever Cemetery
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The medal card of William Welsby showing that he was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals.
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  • Welcome Page
  • Heritage Trails
  • World War 1
    • Fallen Soldiers
    • Soldiers who Survived
    • Casualties at Rainhill Hospitals
    • Rainhill Wartime Hospitals
    • Edith Lidstone's Autograph Book
    • Rainhill Wartime Memorials
    • Keep the Home Fires Burning
    • Zeppelin over Rainhill
    • WW1 Exhibitions
    • Latour-en-Woëvre
    • The Somme
    • Passchendaele
  • World War 2
    • The Fallen of WW2
    • WW2 Survivors
  • VE Celebrations
  • The Stapleton-Bretherton Family
  • Rainhill Landmarks
  • Contact
  • About Us
    • Acknowledgements
    • Copyright
    • Disclaimer
    • Site Map