Born: 1891
Died: 7 June 1917
Buried:
Address: 320 Junction Mount, Idle Road, Eccleshill
Parents: Joseph & Sarah Ellen, nee Webster
Spouse: Constance, nee Kitson
Siblings: John, Frank
Occupation: Clerk
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Sec Lieut
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park & St Luke’s; Menin Gate Memorial
Children:
Regiment: Durham Light Infantry
William Gordon Penrice
William Gordon Penrice was born
in 1891 the son of Joseph and
Sarah Ellen, nee Webster.
William’s father Joseph died in
1909 aged 50 years and by 1911 the
family had moved to 320 Junction
Mount, Idle Road. William, at 19
years of age, was working as a
cashier for Messrs Wertheimer,
Whitehead and Co.
William married on the 7th of July
1915 at Otley Road Chapel, St
Augustine’s Terrace. His bride
was Constance Kitson who was 25
years of age, a clerk of 710 Bolton
Road and the daughter of Herbert
Kitson, a clerk.
When William enlisted he gave his
address as the family home at 320
Junction Mount, Eccleshill.
He enlisted on the 17th
of March 1916 in the
West Yorkshire
Regiment as a Private
and was soon
recognised as a
promising recruit and
rapidly promoted to
sergeant.
He was selected for a
commission and after
having undergone a
course of training he
was gazetted to the Durham Light
Infantry as 2nd Lieutenant going to
France in May 1917.
He was killed in action on 7 June
1917 during the Arras Offensive in
his first engagement.
His commanding officer sent a
letter to Constance – “We
all liked him. Your
husband fell leading his
men in one of the most
complete victories of the
war. He fell dead and
can have suffered no
pain.
“His body was well
behind the German
second line when we
found it. He had
therefore done, and had
done well, what he was told to do
and had led his men to victory
before giving his life for his
country.
“I am very sorry to lose so good an
officer, as are all his brother
officers”.
William was 26 years of age.
Despite the fact that his
Commanding Officer informed his
widow that his body had been
found he is remembered on the
Menin Gate Memorial for the
missing who died in the Ypres
Salient and whose graves are
unknown.
In his Will which was probated on
the 20th of September 1917
William gave his address as 710
Cliffe-Mount and left effects of
£124.13.6d to his widow Constance
Penrice. He also left his Army
effects to Constance who received
£35.13.8d on the 10th January 1918
and a War Gratuity of £5.10.0d on
the 25th November 1919.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks