Born: 1896, Eccleshill
Died: 31 August 1916, Somme
Buried: NKG
Address: 43 Mount Terrace, Eccleshill
Parents: William and Amelia, nee Grant
Spouse:
Siblings: Minnie, Annie, Maud, Jennie, Fred (died, aged 1)
Occupation: Assistant warehouseman
Organisations/clubs: Eccleshill Congregational Sunday School
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: St Luke’s, Eccleshill; Thiepval Monument
Children:
Regiment: Manchester Regt
William Waite
William Waite, known
as Willie, was born in
1896 the son of
William and Amelia,
nee Grant.
William died in 1908
aged 47 years and the
remainder of the family
moved to 57 Mount
Avenue where in 1911
all the children were
working, Willie as a
piecer.
Shortly after this census the family
moved to live in Oldham where
Willie, on the 24th of April 1915
,enlisted in the 27th Reserve
Battalion of the Manchester
Regiment as Private 27237.
He gave his address as 41 Nugget
Street, Oldham. He was 19 years
and 236 days of age and his
occupation is an assistant
warehouseman.
Willie transferred to the
23rd Service Battalion
and in January 1916
landed at Boulogne and
first went into the front
line near Bethune on 7th
March 1916 until the
15th.
The Battalion moved to
Sailly on the 4th April,
Neuve Chapelle late
April, and on May 1st raided the
enemy trenches.
During the battle of the Somme
they served at Bus le Artios,
Lealvillers, Bazincourt, Avelny
Wood, Morlancourt and Happy
Valley, Billon Wood and Talus
Bois.
On the 20th July they were in the
action at Maltz Home Farm south
of Guillemont, and later at Trones
Wood.
On the 30th of July they moved
back to Happy Valley and then to
Sailly le Sec. On the night of the
20th of August they dug a new
trench in advance of the line and
then raided the German lines.
For the rest of the month they were
in support of other units trench
digging. Willie lost his life on the
26th of August 1916 when there
was little action.
The Shipley Times
& Express
reported: “Pte
Willie Waite of 57
Mount Avenue was
killed on Friday
morning, August
24th while on
sentry duty. A shell
burst behind him
and a piece killed him on the spot.
“He was with the 23rd Manchester
Regt and had only been in France
six weeks. He was the only son and
was associated with the
Congregational Sunday School.”
Willie was 20 years of age and he is
remembered on the Thiepval
Memorial.
He left his effects to his mother
Amelia who received £2.15.3d on
the 4th of December 1916 and a
War Gratuity of £3.0.0d on the 16th
of August 1919.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
From Shipley Times & Express 31 August 1917
