Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Hadland, a shepherd, born on the 30th November 1864 in Wolverton, Warwickshire (son of Joseph Hadland, 1825-1904 and Frances Fanny Eden, 1835-1915) and his wife Annie Hadland (nee Cook, married on the 8th January 1892 in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire), born 1873 in Ebury, Oxfordshire (daughter of Stephen Cook, 1844 and Eliza Greenaway, 1848). William was born in the October quarter of 1895 in Coventry, Warwickshire, his siblings were, Edward, born in the April quarter of 1893 in Meriden, Warwickshire, Percy Richard, born on the 14th September 1894 in Stratford on Avon and baptised on the 11th November 1894 in St. Peter’s Church, Welford on Avon, Warwickshire and Albert, born on the 18th July 1900 in Whitley, Coventry and baptised on the 10th August 1900 in St. Michael’s Church, Coventry, in March 1901 the family home was in Cadeby, Leicestershire. In April 1911 William was absent from the family home in Cadeby, residing there was his father, a farm shepherd, his mother and siblings, Edward, a milk boy, Albert, a school boy, Frederick, a schoolboy, born on the 6th July 1902 and baptised on the 3rd August 1902 in All Saint’s Church, Cadeby and Walter Herbert, born in the January quarter of 1910 and baptised on the 9th January 1910 in All Saint’s Church, Cadeby, the latter two siblings were both born in Cadeby, meanwhile, William was employed as a milk boy and was residing as a servant at Coton, Market Bosworth, Leicestershire.
William enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 17th September 1914 in Market Bosworth, and was allotted the regimental service number 2519. He gave his place of birth as Coventry, Warwickshire and age as 18 years 322 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as farm work.
His medical history was compiled during an examination that took place in Coalville on the 1st September 1914 and recorded his birthplace as Coventry, Warwickshire, declared age as 18 years 322 days, trade or occupation as farm worker, that he was 5-feet 8 inches in height, weighed 122 lbs and had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. Enlisted at Market Bosworth on the 17th September 1914. Joined on enlistment 2/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 18 years 322 days, height 5-feet 8 inches weight 122 lbs, chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches his complexion was described as fresh, he had brown eyes and his hair colour was brown. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He was certified as fit for the Territorial Force. Date 1st September 1914. Place Coalville.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Joseph Hadland, mother Annie Hadland, brothers, Edward Hadland, Percy Hadland, Cadeby, market Bosworth.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from the following sources: - Casualty Form – Active Service (B.103). Statement of the Services of. Military History Sheet.
Joined. At Market Bosworth. 17/9/14.
Posted. To 5th Reserve Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 17/9/14.
Embodied service commenced. 17/9/14.
Embarked. With 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 26/2/15.
Landed. Le Havre. 27/2/15.
Admitted. To Hospital, gunshot wound neck. In the Field. 1/5/15.
Transferred. To England per Hospital Ship “St. Patrick,” from Boulogne. 2/5/15.
Embarked. Southampton. 25/6/15.
Disembarked. Rouen. 26/6/15.
Transferred to 46th Divisional Brigade Depot, Rouen. 26/6/15.
Wounded in action, gunshot wound to back and right knee. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Admitted. To 1/3rd North Midlands Field Ambulance. In the Field. 14/10/15.
Admitted. To No.23 Casualty Clearing Station. In the Field. 14/10/15.
Admitted. No.6 General Hospital, Rouen. 17/10/15.
No. 6 General Hospital, Rouen. Reported seriously ill. 31/10/15.
Died of wounds. In No.6 General Hospital, Rouen. 13/11/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 17/9/14 – 27/2/15. 164 days.
France. 28/2/15 – 3/5/15. 65 days.
Home Service. 4/5/15 – 25/6/15. 53 days.
France. 26/6/15 – 13/11/15. 141 days.
Total Service. 1 year 58 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
SERVICE RECORD NOTE: In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.
The War Diary records. 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00 am Battalion in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00 pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50 pm. At 2.00 pm assault. 5th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 4th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by Machine Gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Company officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00 pm “B” Company sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by “A” and part of “D” Companies. Machine Guns in position along original front line now held by “C” Company and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30 pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front-line trench. Many of “A” and “B” Companies still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
An account of the events of the 12th and 13th October 1915.
On the 12th October 1915 the Battalion marched the ten miles from the village of Hesdigneul to the Redoubt in “fighting order”, with great coats rolled and strapped to their backs. They arrived at 10.00 pm at Vermelles, and the following eight hours were spent packed solid in communication trenches. Each soldier carried six sandbags and every third a shovel. As you could imagine, none of them slept and the lucky ones had a drink before our artillery opened up at noon on the 13th October. The enemy artillery responded fifteen minutes later, and at 1.00 pm we released chlorine gas, and disastrously for us an enemy shell shattered some containers in our frontline. At 2.00 pm our troops, many wearing gas helmets went “over the top” and bayonet charged the enemy positions. Terrific machine gun fire tore into them and a shrapnel barrage added to the heavy casualties. Hours passed and furious hand to hand fighting took place and repeated bayonet charges drove the enemy back, who in turn counter attacked. After darkness fell Lance Corporal Clayson of the 1/5th Battalion saved many lives by dragging wounded back to our trenches, and Captain Barton spent hours in No Man’s land giving morphine and water to the dying. When food and drink was brought up during the night the men had their first meal for twenty-four hours, but still no sleep. The morning of the fourteenth was very misty and this became smog as the Germans continued to use shrapnel and gas shells throughout the day. It was at 8.00 am on the fifteenth that the relief was completed and buses took most of our troops back to Hesdigneul. The 1/5th Battalion lost four officers, six wounded, two gassed and thirty-five men killed, one hundred and thirty-two wounded and twenty-two gassed.
On Monday, November 29th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private W. HADLAND (2519), 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment (T.F.), previously reported wounded is now reported to have died of wounds.
On Monday, December 6th, 1915, The Leicester Mail published the following article under the heading. – PRIVATE W. HADLAND (CADEBY) DIES OF WOUNDS. – Private W. Hadland, of the 5th Leicester’s (T.F.), son of Mr. and Mrs. Hadland, of Cadeby, Market Bosworth, has died of wounds in hospital at Rouen. He was attached to a grenade party, and was badly wounded in the knee and back on his twentieth birthday; it was necessary to amputate the leg, from which he never rallied. For eight years he was a member of the Cadeby Church choir. He was employed on the Cadeby estate of Messrs. Scott and Brown.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday December 10th, 1915

Cadeby Soldier Killed

Private W. Hadland, of the 5th Leicesters (T.F.), son of Mr and Mrs Hadland, of Cadeby, Market Bosworth, has died of wounds in hospital at Rouen. He was attached to a grenade party and was badly wounded in the knee, and back on his twentieth birthday, it was necessary to amputate the leg, from which he never rallied. For eight years he was a member of Cadeby Church choir. He was employed on the Cadeby estate of Messrs. Scott and Brown.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 23rd, 1920

CADEBY WAR MEMORIAL

Sir Thomas Cope, of Osbaston Hall, has unveiled, and the Rector (the Rev. J. Stewart Borrowdale) has dedicated a war memorial, which has been placed in the church by the villagers of Cadeby and Osbaston, in memory of the men from the two villages who lost their lives in the war. The memorial is of white marble, and has been erected on the north wall of the church at a cost of £15/18/0. It bears the following names:

William Hadland, Leicestershire Regiment; Frederick B. Bartlam, Leicestershire Regiment; Wm. E. Parry, Leicestershire Regiment; Albert Arthur Unwin, Leicestershire Regiment; Wm. J. Pallett, Leicestershire Regiment; Chas. Ball, Hawke Battalion, N.D.; and Geo. Pallett, Lincolnshire Regiment.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 10/09/2017