Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Pizer, a farm foreman, born 1858 at Great Ponton, Lincolnshire and his wife Elizabeth Pizer (nee Isaac, married in the 4th quarter of 1883 in the Grantham, Lincolnshire district), born 1859 in Hungerton cum Wyville, Lincolnshire. William Henry was born in the 22nd April 1895 in Saxelbye, Leicestershire, his siblings were, John Thomas, a farm yard boy, born 1886 and Frederick, born 1888, the latter two siblings were both born in Great Ponton, Edward, born 1892, Ethel, born 1898 and Arthur, born 1901, the latter three siblings were all born in Saxelbye, in March 1901 the family home was at White Lodge, Goadby Marwood, Leicestershire. In April 1911 William was employed as a farm cow boy, and was residing in the family home at the White Lodge, Goadby Marwood, together with his father, a farm bailiff, his mother and siblings, John, a farm wagoner, Frederick, an agricultural labourer, Edward a farm cow man, Ethel, a schoolgirl and Arthur a schoolboy. William later became a blacksmiths striker.
William attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservist’s) to serve an engagement of 3 years on the 2nd September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. He gave his place of birth as Saxelbye, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years and 133 days and his trade or calling as blacksmiths striker. He gave his present home address as The White Lodge, Goadby Marwood, Leicestershire. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Thomas Pizer, his mother Elizabeth Pizer and his brother John Thomas Pizer, all of Goadby Marwood, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3 inches in height, weighed 133 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 35½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 2nd September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 13024 on the 2/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 24/9/14. Posted to the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment on the 28/7/16. Admitted to the County of London Hospital, Epsom suffering from a gunshot wound to the left shoulder on the 28/7/16. Discharged from the County of London Hospital, Epsom on the 4/9/16. Posted to the Command Depot, Ripon on the 15/9/16. Re-posted to the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment on the 21/9/16. Admitted to the County of London Hospital, Epson suffering from a bullet in the spine on the 21/9/16. Discharged from the County of London Hospital, Epsom on the 19/12/16. Admitted to the Eastern Division Convalescent Hospital, Eastbourne on the 19/12/16. Discharged from the Eastern Division Convalescent Hospital, Eastbourne on the 17/3/17. Posted to the 3rd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 17/3/17. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 24/5/17. Posted to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/5/17. Joined 12th Infantry Brigade Depot on the 26/5/17. Posted to the 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 18/6/17. Joined 1/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 25/6/17. Killed in action, in the field on the 17/8/17. A summary of his service records: Home Service 2/9/14 – 28/7/15, 330 days. British Expeditionary Force, France 29/7/15 – 27/7/16, 365 days. Home Service 28/7/16 – 24/5/17, 301 days British Expeditionary Force, France, 25/5/17 – 17/8/17, 85 days, Total service 2 years 350 days. William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by William’s mother Elizabeth Pizer on the 1st July 1919, and was witnessed and signed by The Reverend W. B. Dalby, Clerk in Holy Orders, The Recory, Goadby Marwood, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier Thomas Pizer, Goadby Marwood, Melton Mowbray. Mother of soldier, Elizabeth Pizer, Goadby Marwood, Melton Mowbray. Full blood brothers of soldier, John Thomas Pizer, age 35 of Chadwell, Melton Mowbray. Frederick Pizer, age 31 of Wymondham, Oakham. Edward Pizer, age 27 of Goadby Marwood, Melton Mowbray. Arthur Pizer, age 18 of Goadby Marwood, Melton Mowbray. Full blood sisters of soldier, Ethel Pizer, age 21 of Goadby Marwood, Melton Mowbray. William’s surviving service documents are in poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On Friday July 28th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – GOADBY MARWOOD CASUALTIES. – We hear that Wm. Pizer, of Goadby Marwood has been slightly wounded. Ralph Brutnell and Frank Gilbert Waite, who have been in training have been invalided home as unfit for further service.
The War Diary records: 17 Aug-17 - At about 12.15am the first wounded men came down the tunnel to the dressing station, by 2.00am the majority of men were in except a few stretcher cases. See report on raid Appendix B. The Battalion arrived back in NOYELLES at about 3.30am. During the morning we had visits from Brigadier and General Officer Commanding Division, who said he would address the Battalion the next morning. The afternoon was spent in cleaning up and exchanging and patching up the torn clothing.
APPENDIX ‘B’:- Report on the raid carried out by the 1/5th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT on the 16th/17th August 1917. The raiding party left NOYELLES and marched up to the line on morning of the 14th August. On the march up through VERMELLES 11 men of “B” Company were killed and 14 wounded by one shell. Ample accommodation was found for the whole party in LONE TRENCH and 10th AVENUE. Owing to the unsatisfactory state of the enemy front line wire Z day was postponed 24 hours. On 16th wire cutting was continued and with better success. ASSEMBLY: Companies marched to their assembly trenches and formed up 20 minutes before ZERO without sustaining any casualties. ADVANCE: No difficulty whatever was found in passing over our trenches and through gaps in our wire (all gaps and lines having been marked with tape after dark on the 16th). The enemy front line wire was found very much damaged (except on the extreme left and extreme right) and little difficulty was found in passing through it, but wire was found in parts of enemy front line trench. Wire in front of HILDA was well cut and presented no obstacle, but midway between HILDA and HULLOCH TRENCHES party was held up by a fairly strong belt of wire. Eventually this was negotiated and enemy third line was reached. All bombing blocks were established and party for destruction of GOOSE under 2nd Lieutenant J. S. PLUMMER set out.
ENEMY: Two were met in front line and killed, three parties one of four and two of six were met in HILDA TRENCH, some were killed some escaped running over ground to HULLOCH TRENCH. No enemy were met in HULLOCH TRENCH but many were firing from ruins behind this trench and a considerable amount of machine gun fire came from the same area. Several enemy ran down into dug outs in HILDA TRENCH. These dug outs were blown up by our destruction parties.
WITHDRAWAL: The special flare lights (although similar ones had been tested 9 days previously) did not go off. Enemy counter attacked on our left, coming over the top they were met by Lewis gun fire from one of our bombing blocks and several of the enemy were seen to fall. Enemy also made a strong bombing attack down HICKS ALLEY but was held up by our bombers until withdrawal was completed.
ENEMY TRENCHES: Front line system very badly damaged indeed. Can be passed over almost anywhere, there are several dug outs in this line near saps. HILDA TRENCH deep trench 8 foot in very good order, fire steps, no revetment or duck boards, several dug outs, the majority of which were blown in.
HULLOCH TRENCH. Deep in places but not in good order, no duck boards or revetment. COMMUNICATION TRENCHES. Except HERRING ALLEY all in very fair condition and about 8 foot deep. HERRING ALLEY at lower end was full of new concertina wire for nearly 80 yards.
DUG OUTS. Deep, either 15 or 30 steps, latter are very damp, all entered (7) had been cleared of everything. Enemy was undoubtedly prepared for our raid, wire in trenches, counter attack. The projection of THERMITE at ZERO minus 4 lit up most of the area raided, and seemed to put enemy on alert at once. Enemy barrage opened on our assembly line at ZERO and later seemed to fall on enemy front line.
On Friday September 21st 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS” – GOADBY MARWOOD. MEMORIAL SERVICE.- A very impressive service was held on Sunday week in the church of St. Denys, in memory of Private William Henry Pizer, who after being twice previously seriously wounded, was killed in action on August 17th, “somewhere in France,” at the early age of 22 years. There was a large congregation, testifying to the affectionate regard in which this gallant lad was held by his many friends and the sympathy felt for the family in their heavy bereavement. The rector preached an earnest sermon, making touching reference to the high character of the deceased and to the extent of the sacrifice which he like so many more of the pick and flower of our young men had been called upon to make. Though they were persuaded that this was now a higher service still and while they thanked God for such an example it was but human that they should lament their personal loss. After the blessing had been pronounced the organist, Miss Waite, played the Dead March in “Saul,” all present reverently standing.