Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick Thomas Steer, a coachman, born 14th April 1856 in Westerham, Kent and his wife Alice Jane Steer (nee Ledger, married on the 14th December 1876 in Westerham, Kent), born in the 1st quarter of 1855 in Reading, Berkshire. William John was born in the 1st quarter of 1886 in Henbury, Barton Regis, Bristol, Gloucestershire, his siblings were, Frederick Thomas William, a stable boy, born 1878 in Elham, Kent, Maude Elizabeth Alice, a schoolgirl, born 12th May 1881 in South Leith, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland and Mary Kate, a schoolgirl, born 2nd November 1883 in Catier, Ireland, in April 1891 the family home was at Berwick Coachman’s Cottage, Botany Bay, Henbury, Barton Regis, Gloucestershire. In March 1901 William was absent from the family home at 38, Skipworth Street, Leicester, residing there was his father, a coachman, his mother and sister Mary, a milliner, William was employed as a domestic stable worker and was residing as a boarder at Haselbech, Brixworth, Northamptonshire, together with his elder brother Frederick a domestic coachman. In April 1911 William was employed as a domestic groom and was residing at Soar Road, Quorn, Leicestershire, together with his wife Emily Elizabeth Steer (nee Webster, married on the 6th June 1910 in the Parish Church, Quorn, Leicestershire), born 22nd October 1892 in Quorn. There were two children from the marriage, Elsie Maud, born 16th September 1912 and baptised on the 3rd November 1912 in the Parish Church, Groby and Leonard John, born 28th June 1914 and baptised on the 16th August 1914 in the Parish Church, Groby, both children were born in the Market Bosworth, Leicestershire district. William’s widow Emily, married George Holmes on the 27th October 1928 in the Parish Church, Quorn. William also had an older brother, Thomas William, born 1878 in Shorncliffe, Kent.
William’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Yeomanry, being allotted the service number 2144, and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 2nd November 1914. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 13 May-15 - BELLEWARDE FARM. Position of Regiment at midnight 12th/13th May was 700 yards west of road joining ZONNEBEKE ROAD and YPRES – MENIN ROAD, extreme right resting on railway running north east from YPRES, and extending to the farm about 300 yards north, north west of railway. “B” Squadron occupied north, “C” Squadron south part of the front line trenches. The trenches were bad, 5 feet deep and 2½ feet wide at the bottom. Parapets at the front and back slanted very much, and were made of loose soil. There were few sand bags, and no dug outs or other protection from shell fire. “A” Squadron occupied the Support trenches 300 yards in the rear of the advanced trenches and on the left flank of “B” Squadron. Machine gun section in “C” Squadron trench close to the railway. Headquarters in dug outs on road joining ZONNEBEKE ROAD and MENIN ROAD, 150 yards north of the railway. During the night the trenches were somewhat improved. Heavy shell fire from 3.30am to 6.00am, but few casualties. The enemy then began to pour over their parapets with the evident intention of attacking, but being met by heavy fire from our men, they retired again to their trenches. A second and more violent bombardment began, and was kept up until 7.30am. Our losses during this bombardment were much heavier, and the machine guns were knocked out and a trench blown in. At 7.30am the enemy attacked and occupied the advanced trenches vacated by the Regiment on our left, from there they gained part of “B” Squadron trenches. They then advanced to within 200 yards of the Support trenches and dug themselves in, having steel shields as a protection. Those of the enemy who had occupied the “B” Squadron trench advanced along the trench, and Major B. R. LIEBERT, Lieutenant W. S. FIELDING-JOHNSON and Squadron Sergeant Major J. P. SWAIN with what was left of “B” Squadron, retired down the trench and joined “C” Squadron. Here Major W. F. MARTIN ordered barricades of sand bags to be placed across the trench. Some of the trench party fired over this barricade at the enemy advancing from the flank, others at the enemy advancing from the front. Major MARTIN, Major LIEBERT, Lieutenant C. PEAKE and 2nd Lieutenant T. E. BROOKS were all killed. The casualties were so heavy that Lieutenant FIELDING-JOHNSON, the only surviving officer decided to retire down the trench, to cross the railway and join the 3rd DRAGOON GUARDS on the other side of it. He had great difficulty in crossing the railway, which was swept by the enemy’s machine guns. Finally the crossing was effected by building a sand bag parapet across the railway, and Lieutenant FIELDING-JOHNSON joined the 3rd DRAGOON GUARDS with Squadron Sergeant Major SWAIN and 14 men, the only survivors of the two Squadrons of LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY who had occupied the advanced trenches. At about 6.00am Lieutenant Colonel the Hon. P. C. EVANS-FREKE decided to establish a small advanced post at a building about 150 yards in advance of the Support trenches. He personally placed 2nd Lieutenant T. H. SIMPKIN with 15 men in charge of this post. While returning to the Support trenches he was shot dead. The supports held their position until 12.00 noon, when the Brigade Major, Captain D. P. TOLLEMACHE arrived. The enemy by this time were very near at hand carrying shields which appeared to be quite bullet proof, and were digging themselves in. Major W. F. RICARDO displayed great gallantry in holding on to the Support trenches, although wounded four separate time. When the counter attack was made by the ROYAL HORSE GUARDS, the 10th HUSSARS and the ESSEX YEOMANRY, the remains of “A” Squadron, led by Captain TOLLEMACHE and Lieutenant T. W. BEST, joined in the charge. The counter attack drove the enemy out of the new trenches which they had made near our Support trenches, but did not retake our advanced trenches, consequently the dead and wounded from these were never recovered. The Regiment was relieved during the night of the 13th/14th May by the ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS, and reached their huts at BRIELEN at about 4.00am on the 14th May. The casualties of the action on the 13th May were as follows:- Killed, Lieutenant Colonel The Hon. P. C. EVANS-FREKE, Major W. F. MARTIN. Major B. R. LIEBERT, Lieutenant C. PEAKE and 2nd Lieutenant T. E. BROOKS. Other ranks killed, 47. Wounded Major W. F. RICARDO, Captain C. M. MARTIN, Captain E. R. HANBURY, Captain G. R. CODRINGTON and Lieutenant T. W. BEST. Other ranks wounded, 90. There were 39 other ranks missing.
On Friday June 11th 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – His relatives have been officially informed that Private W. J. STEER, of C Squadron, Leicestershire Yeomanry, who had previously been reported missing, was killed in action on May 13th. Private Steer was the son of Mr. Frederick Steer, of 17, Milligan-road, Aylestone Park, and his widow and two children reside at Groby, where the deceased soldier, who enlisted in October, was formerly in the employ of the late Lieut. Thompson, of The Grey Lodge.
On Friday June 25th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” The following casualties in the 4th and 5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment are reported from General Headquarters and the Base:- OFFICER WOUNDED. 4th Battalion. Dyer-Bennet, Capt. and Adjutant R.S. KILLED. 4th Battalion. Baker, 2533, Lance-Corpl. T. G. 5th Battalion. Beadman, 2566, Private C.T. Clarke, 1956. Private D. Keeling, 3038, Private T.G. WOUNDED. 4th Battalion. Jones, 2593, Lance-Corporal G.J. Shipman, 1280, Lance-Corporal W. Walker, 2346, Private H. 5th Battalion. Dakin, 2173, Private E. Lord, 1474, Private S.D. Minckley, 1776, Lance-Corporal G. YEOMANRY AND TERRITORIAL CASUALTIES. The week-end official lists of casualties contain the following:- LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED MISSING, NOW REPORTED KILLED. Corah, 1471, Private E. Lucas, 1848, Private J.J. Steer, 2144, Private W.J.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday July 21st, 1916

MEMORIAL TO LOCAL OFFICERS

DEDICATION SERVICE AT GROBY

In the parish church of Groby, the Bishop of Leicester dedicated two windows and a mural tablet erected in the new chancel by Mrs Thompson, of the Grey Lodge, to the glory of God, and of His Church, and in loving memory of her two soldier sons and Trooper W. J. Steer. The windows are on the south sides. The beauty of the design of the two large figures in each window, and the subjects depicted in the two small panels beneath, drew forth many exclamations of admiration, the colouring being exquisitely rich and appropriate. The one representing David and Jonathan is in memory of Samuel Pestell Donald Thompson, lieutenant in the Leicestershire Yeomanry, who was killed in action along with Trooper W. J. Steer, on the Menin-Ypres road on May 13th, 1915, when the Yeomanry fought with such bravery and distinction. On the outbreak of the war Lieut. Thompson at once volunteered for active service, and accompanied his regiment to Flanders. The other window represents St. Michael and St. George, and is in memory of Kenneth Clarke Thompson, Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, who fell in the service of his country at Fleurbaix, on December 1st, 1914. Returning to England from Gibraltar, where the battalion was stationed on the outbreak of war, he left again for the Front, with the 7th Division, in October, 1914. He served for a time as Adjutant to the Battalion, and in recognition of his services during the first battle of Ypres, was mentioned in Sir John French’s first dispatches, the mural tablet in memory of Trooper W. J. Steer, is one of fine alabaster with gold inlaid work, and ends with the words, “Faithful unto death.” The Bishop took for his text, Mark xii., 27, and in simple, but most impressive language preached a sermon which was full of inspiration and encouragement, are one which will long be remembered by those who were present.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 14/10/2017