Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Cave a coal miner, born 1867 in Stanton under Bardon, Leics., and his wife Ada a hand knitter of stockings, born 1869 in Markfield, Leics. William was born in 1894 in Markfield, Leics., his siblings were, Eva, born 1890, Norman, born 1894 and Fred, born 1899, all his siblings were born in Markfield, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Markfield, Leics. In April 1911 William was employed as a colliery pony driver and was residing in the family home at Cumberland Road, Ellistown, Leics., together with his remarried father and step mother, Annie Agnes, born 1884 in Hugglescote, Leics., and his siblings, Norman, Fred, Sidney, born 1904 in Markfield, Leics., Ida, born 1897 in Coalville, Leics., and his half blood siblings, Beatrice, born 1906, Elizabeth, born 1908 and Agnes, born 1911, the latter three siblings were all born in Hugglescote, Leics. William was killed in the Cambrin Right Sector, just to the north of Loos, France. The War Diary for today records. TRENCHES CAMBRIN RIGHT. Day very cold a few enemy trench mortars fell on our left posts but were immediately silenced by our artillery retaliation. Unusually large amount of aerial activity, both sides flying low. Both sides sniping and enemy again obtained a hit wounding two men of the right Coy. Figures show up very clearly against the snow background and both sides are making use of crate ups for observation and sniping posts. 2nd Lt ASHER went to Army Sniping School. During the afternoon enemy were very quiet except for a few -?- on the right. All tanks and pipes are now frozen so water has to be sent up with rations or carried from the well in JUNCTION KEEP, a long way. The night was darker and the wiring of CURRIN TRENCH completed without mishap.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday February 1st, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Sergeant W. E. Cave of the Leicestershire Regiment who was wounded in action on December 28th and has since died of his wounds, was a son of Mr and Mrs Edward Cave, of 12, Cumberland Road, Ellistown. He was 23 years of age, and before the war worked at the Bagworth Colliery. He was in the Territorials prior to the war, and joined up as soon as hostilities commenced.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 13/1/2018