William Carroll was born in 1893 in Bradford, the son of Thomas and Ireland- born Mary, nee McNulty. The couple started married life in Bradford where all their nine children were born. The family moved to 3 Beldon Place, Undercliffe sometime after 1911. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Michael, in 1911 William enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery. In April 1911 at the age of 18 years he was at The Citadel Barracks, Royal Garrison Artillery, Lamthay Hill, Plymouth and his occupation is shown as a gunner.

Very little is known about his service in the First World War but he served with the 282nd Siege Battery. Siege Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory. The Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. On the 9th of January 1917 at Totlands Bay on the Isle of Wight William married Ethel Caroline

Kate Mitchell who had been born on the Isle of Wight in 1894. It is quite possible that he was stationed at Golden Hill Fort, Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight as soon after his marriage his wife Ethel was living at 5 High Street, Freshwater Bay whilst William was fighting on the Western Front. During the Arras Offensive, probably during the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe 3rd/4th May 1917, William was wounded in action and he died from his wound in No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station on the 4th of May 1917. He was 23 years of age. He is buried in the Baileul Community Cemetery Extension Bailleul was occupied on 14th

Researched and written by Jean Britteon, to whom many thanks.

October 1914 by the 19th Brigade and the 4th Division. It became an important railhead, air depot and hospital centre, with the 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 11th, 53rd, 1st Canadian and 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Stations quartered in it for considerable periods. It was a Corps headquarters until July 1917. William left his effects to his widow who received £12.1.6d on the 5th October 1917 and a War Gratuity of £17.0.0d on the 20th October 1919. Ethel remarried in 1922.

The effect of the war on William’s family is summed up in these two reports published in the Shipley Times & Express Mrs Carroll of 3 Beldon Place, Idle Road, Undercliffe, is the mother of four sons and there are also three sons-in-law who have rendered splendid service for their King and Country in this time of national crisis. Though 60 years of age, Mrs Carroll is still vigorous and very proud of the family record. When families have given of their best and bravest it is hardly to be expected that all will pass safely through the ordeal of war and Mrs Carroll has been called upon to take her share of sorrow by the loss of two of her sons, the wounding of another and one of her sons-in- law is also in hospital with a bullet wound in his thigh. Taken in order of age, the record of the sons is as follows: Sgt Michael Carroll, 38, served with the Royal Garrison Artillery eight years before the outbreak of war and being on the reserve at the commencement of hostilities, was immediately called to take his place with the guns.

He has served over two years in France and so far has come through without a scratch. Pte John Carroll, who was in the Scottish Borderers, served in France two years and during that period was wounded three times and was eventually killed on July 31st this year. He was a single young man and 28 years of age. Cpl William Carroll, 24, was in the Royal Garrison Artillery and proving himself a good shot was presented with the cross guns badge and also the good conduct stripe. After completing his training he was sent to France but was only there a few weeks when he was killed in action on May 4th this year Pte Joseph Carroll is in the West Riding Regt and was sent out to the Dardanelles where he was wounded. On recovering from his injuries he was sent to France and was again wounded and is now at the front for the third time. He is 22 years of age. Pte Harrison Ashforth, son-in-law, is in the West Yorks and after six weeks service in France received a bullet wound in the thigh on May 3rd and is still in hospital. Before joining the colours he was in business

for himself as a decorator. Pte Thomas Mulligan, son-in-law, has been four months in France with the Army Ordnance. Mr William Medley, son-in-law, has been engaged in munitions at Leather’s, Canal Road, Bradford, chemical manufacturer since the works were taken over by the Government. He has been employed by the same firm for 23 years. 21 September 1917 The serious losses in the war of Mrs Carroll of 3 Beldon Place, Undercliffe, have been further emphasised by the latest news concerning another son, who has been killed in action. He is Pte Joseph Carroll and he is the fourth brother to fall in the war. He was with the Duke Of Wellington’s West Riding Regt Mrs Carroll’s other fallen sons are: Pte John Carroll, Scottish Border Regt, killed on 29th July 1917; QM Sgt M Carroll, killed in an accident at the front this year; and Cpl W Carroll, killed in May 1917. 31 May 1918