Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John and Eliza Jane Ducksbury. William was educated at the Wesleyan School on Belvoir Road, Coalville, and found employment on leaving as a miner at the South Leicestershire Colliery, Ellistown. He was killed at Bazentin le Petit. The War Diary covering the events of the 14th and 15th July 1916 records the following entries.
14th July 1916 at 3.00am. Dispositions as follows, Battalion HQ. same place as above, “D” Company in 2 lines of 2 platoons with its right on the railway 200 yards in front of north edge of wood. “C” Company moved up to the north edge, “B” Company supporting 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT lying in the north east corner of the wood, “A” Company supported the 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT lying out in the open on the eastern side of the wood. Battalion raiders and “D” Company bombers were lying out in front of “D” Company 1st wave. During our intense bombardment from 3.00am., enemy subjected the north edge of the wood and the wood itself to very heavy bombardment and machine gun fire. 3.25am. “D” Company advanced preceded by the raiders and bombers to their objective which was about 100 yards of VILLA TRENCH to the left of the railway LEFT TRENCH and ASTON TRENCH. During intense bombardment they crept up as close as possible. In the actual attack this Company suffered considerably from hostile machine gun fire, not a single officer reaching VILLA TRENCH. The Company was led by its N.C.O.’s. Very little opposition was encountered once VILLA TRENCH was reached, dug outs were immediately bombed and the Lewis guns which followed up closely took up a position in VILLA TRENCH and caused a considerable number of casualties amongst the retreating enemy. Although the majority of the raiders had been knocked out, the remainder did excellent work in bombing towards the left flank and blocking VILLA and ASTON TRENCHES. “D” Company consolidated these trenches as quickly as possible. At 4.25am. “C” Company and 1st waves of “A” and “B” Companies advanced over the 450 yards of no mans land and arrived at BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD, “C” Company going up the west side of the wood as far as FOREST TRENCH support, eventually advancing with 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT as far as the north edge of the wood on the way bombing two enemy dug outs in the wood. This Company’s final position was from ASTON TRENCH to within about 100 yards of north west corner of wood. “B” Company and “A” Company on arrival at the wood pushed forward in support of 7th and 6th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT the whole three advancing to the north edge of the wood and BAZENTIN LE PETIT village. The enemy put up a strong resistance in FOREST TRENCH but withdrew to the outskirts of the village and the extreme north east corner of the wood, the time was about 8.00am. During the advance over no mans land a number of casualties received due to enemy machine gun situated in the middle of the wood on platforms up large trees. About 5.00am. Commanding Officer and Adjutant came over to south west corner of wood where Battalion HQ. was established. 5.25am. Last wave of “A” and “B” Companies came over and passed right through the wood to the north edge. 5.00am. Enemy counter attacked up ASTON and VILLA TRENCHES with bombs and rifle grenades, “C” Company under 2nd Lt. ALEXANDER formed bombing parties and drove them back, the latter and the Colonel losing their lives about this time. The left flank was continually rifle grenaded till about 2.30pm. 10.00am. Enemy counter attacked the north edge of the wood but were repulsed by rifle and Lewis gun fire after 3 hours of fighting. About this time 50 men were sent up from FOREST TRENCH where they were consolidating to support “C” Company’s right. Every effort was now made to consolidate positions gained. From 3.00 to 4.15pm. enemy bombarded BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD and no mans land very heavily, using tear shells, when the 1st EAST YORKSHIRE REGT came up with reinforcements. Night of 14th/15th. North edge of wood was much troubled by a party of enemy entrenched outside, who caused several casualties with rifle grenades and sniping. This party was eventually driven out by stokes gun on night of 16th/17th instant.
15th July 1916 at 6.00am. Battalion had orders to withdraw to a spot in rear of MAMETZ WOOD together with the 7th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. On its arrival it was ordered to resume its positions in BAZENTIN LE PETIT WOOD as soon as possible, which it did. Nothing of importance happened after this till the Battalion was relieved except continual sniping from the enemy. Rations and water and small arms ammunition came up each evening and were successfully distributed except in the case of an isolated party of “B” Company in BAZENTIN village on evening of 14th.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday August 4th, 1916

COALVILLE SOLDIER NOTIFIES BROTHER’S DEATH

Writing to his parents, Mr and Mrs John Ducksbury, of Highfields, Coalville, Private John Harold Ducksbury, of the Leicestershire Regiment, conveys the sad news that his brother, Private William Ducksbury, of the same regiment, has died of wounds.

Before the war the two brothers were working as colliers at the South Leicestershire Colliery, where their father is also employed, and soon after hostilities commenced they joined Kitchener’s Army. The deceased was 22 years of age.

Coalville Times article - Friday August 11th, 1916

Sergt. A. Crooks, Pte. W. Ducksbury, and L.-Corpl. E. Batho, whose deaths were recently reported, were old boys of Coalville Belvoir Road Council (formerly Wesleyan) Schools?

Coalville Times article - Friday July 20th, 1917

IN MEMORIAM

In loving memory of our dear son, William Ducksbury, who was killed in action, on the 14th July, 1916.

“He went as a volunteer on the 2nd of September, 1914, to fight for his King and Country, but not his fortune to return to his loving parents. His earthly father and mother could not answer his last call, so his Heavenly Father and Mother called him Home.”

God bless him and all our fallen Heroes. From his ever loving Father and Mother, Sisters and Brothers.

St Saviour’s Bulletin

Vol. 1. November 1928 No. 4.

Published by Father Degen, The Catholic Church, Coalville, Leicester

Price – One Penny.

St. Saviour’s Roll of Honour

Edward Henry Hunt.
Joseph Sheffield.
Francis Edward Stafford.
Harold Edwin Ketcher.
William Ducksbury.
Allan Thorpe.
George Herbert Saddington.
Arthur Lovell.
John Mulrooney.

How vain is the wealth of flowers,
How vain is the mourner’s wreath,
How useless the marble tombstone,
To the dust that lies beneath.

How futile the empty praises,
How futile the tears that fall,
The sable and crape of mourning,
How empty and vain are all!

The voice of the dead is calling,
All through the wealth of flowers,
Not for our grief and tears.

Our own, our lost, our lov’d ones,
Oh! Could we but hear them speak;
Prayer is the flower they ask for,
Prayer is the wealth they seek.

More dear than the flower-lit grasses-
The fragrant churchyard sod-
One prayer for their souls to Jesus,
One prayer to the heart of God.

We can open the gates of heaven
By the wondrous key of prayer,
That the suffering souls may enter
The joy that awaits them there.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 15/10/2017