Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Wain, born on the 6th January 1862 in Long Whatton, Leicestershire and his wife Ellen Wain (nee Wilkins, married in the 4th quarter of 1879 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born in the 3rd quarter of 1861 in Long Whatton. William Wilkins was born in the 3rd quarter of 1894 in Long Whatton, in the same quarter of 1894, William’s mother died aged 34, possibly due to complications at his birth. In March 1901 William was absent from the family home at Survy Lane, Long Whatton, residing there was his widowed father, a horticultural labourer and his sibling, Reuben, an assistant time clerk, born in the 4th quarter of 1886 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, William meanwhile, was a schoolboy, and was residing as a boarder at Drapers Yard, Town Street, Long Whatton together with his widowed maternal grandmother, a hosiery trade seamstress, born 1836 in Long Whatton. In April 1911 William was absent from the family home at Sheppards Yard, Long Whatton, residing there was his father, a framework knitter, his stepmother, Edith Wain (nee Cartlidge, married in the 4th quarter of 1904 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), born 1873 in Long Whatton, and their adopted daughter, Gladys Edith Bexon, born 1909 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, William was at this time employed as a farm labourer and was residing as a servant at Tonge Hall, Breedon on the Hill, Leicestershire. William also had the following older siblings, Albert, born in the 3rd quarter of 1880, Eli, born on the 2nd May 1882, David, born in the 2nd quarter of 1884 and John, born on the 1st May 1889, the later four siblings were all born in Long Whatton. His older brother David, died in hospital on the 4th September, 1915, from enteric contracted whilst on active service. David’s father was awarded a weekly Army Pension of five shillings for life, to commence on the 6th November 1918.
William’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 12087, and was posted as a Private to that Regiment’s Depot, he was then, on a date unknown transferred to the Lincolnshire Regiment, being posted to the 1st Battalion, and it was to join this Battalion that he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 26th January 1915. On the 5th February 1915 he was admitted to No.3 Casualty Clearing Station, Hazebrouck suffering from a head wound and was, the same day transferred to hospital aboard No.9 Ambulance Train. Nothing further is known of his military service until he was officially recorded as being killed in action on the 1st July 1916, while serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment. His body was never recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme in France. William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 1 July-16 – In Trenches opposite OVILLERS. Everybody was in their position by 3.30am and the wire along the whole of our front reported cut by 2.30am 2nd Lieutenant OLD and a few men got wounded doing this, and Lieutenant ROSS’ party had trouble owing to continual hostile machine gun fire. Brigade was checked at 5.30am.
6.25am. The intensive bombardment commenced to which the enemy retaliated on our front line and assembly trenches with high explosive shrapnel.
7.25. Companies started to move forward from their assembly positions preparatory to the assault. The three assaulting Companies getting their 1st two waves out into no man’s land, and their 3rd and 4th waves out at Zero hour. These arrangements were carried out most excellently, no hitch occurring, but casualties were fairly heavy from machine gun fire. The support Company got into our front line trench but suffered a lot of casualties from shell fire.
7.30am. As soon as the barrage lifted the whole assaulted. They were met with very severe rifle fire and in most cases had to advance in rushes and return fire. This fire seemed to come from the German second line, and the machine gun fire from our left. On reaching the German front line they found it strongly held and were met with showers of bombs, but after a very hard fight about 200 yards of German line was taken about 7.50am, the extreme right failing to get in and also the extreme left where there appeared to be a gap of about 70 yards although bits of platoons of the 70th Brigade joined them. The support Company by this time joined in. The few officers that were left gallantly led their men over the German trench to attack the second line but owing to the rifle and machine gun fire could not push on. Attempts were made to consolidate and make blocks but the trench was so badly knocked about that very little cover was obtainable from the enfilade machine gun fire and continual bombing attacks which were being made by the enemy the whole time, and one frontal attack from their second line which we repulsed.
9.00am. This isolated position became untenable, no supports being able to reach us owing to the intense rifle and machine gun fire. Our left being driven back the remainder which by now only held about 100 yards, had to withdraw. On reaching our own line all the men that could be collected were formed up and used to push on again but the heavy machine gun and rifle fire made the ground quite impassable.
1.00pm. Orders were received from the Brigade to withdraw to RIBBLE and MELLING STREETS and occupy the assembly dugouts there which was done.
12 Mid-night. We were relieved by the 6th WEST KENTS and proceeded to LONG VALLEY.
Other Ranks, 26 killed, 303 wounded, 89 missing, 25 wounded and missing.
Officers present with the Battalion: Lieutenant Colonel D. BASTARD, D.S.O. Captain R. B. LESLIE, Captain W. G. F. WISEMAN (wounded and missing), Captain J. H. JENDWINE (missing), Captain B. L. NEEDHAM (killed), Captain F. K. GRIFFITH, Lieutenant B. G. WOODCOCK (wounded), Lieutenant D. S. ROSS (missing), Lieutenant H. H. SHEARMAN (died of wounds), Lieutenant H. E. SOWERBY (wounded), Lieutenant J. H. TOOLS (wounded and missing), Lieutenant H. G. CLIFFORD (wounded and missing), Lieutenant J. SHELLEY (wounded), 2nd Lieutenant G. W. H. APPLINE (killed), 2nd Lieutenant A. W. OLD (wounded), 2nd Lieutenant S. N. CARTER (wounded), 2nd Lieutenant J. ANSTEE (killed), 2nd Lieutenant P. H. GATES (wounded), 2nd Lieutenant C. C. W. MEYER (died of wounds), 2nd Lieutenant L. O. SHARP (killed), 2nd Lieutenant E. A. JENNETT (wounded), 2nd Lieutenant S. T. STEVENS (wounded), Captain W. Fotheringham (Medical Officer), 2nd Lieutenant K. M. J. FERGUSON (with 25th Trench Mortar Battery), 2nd Lieutenant J. D. DRYSDALE (with Brigade Bombers), The following were left with Regimental Transport in reserve:- Major W. N. PITT, 2nd Lieutenant H. INGOLDBY, 2nd Lieutenant G. M. F. WREFORD, 2nd Lieutenant C. W. SPICER, 2nd Lieutenant W. A. BARTLETT, 2nd Lieutenant W. I. S. RAWSON, 2nd Lieutenant E. T. OWEN, 2nd Lieutenant G. A. F. GRANTHAM. Major E. W. SHUMER (Quartermaster), Lieutenant F. F. DAVIS (Transport Officer), 2nd Lieutenant W. I. DAVIS (with 179th Tunnelling Company).
On Friday September 17th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – LONG WHATTON SOLDIER’S DEATH. – News has come to hand from the chaplain and matron of a hospital in France of the death there, on September 4th, from enteric fever, of Private D. Wain, of the 1st Leicester’s, third son of Mr. Thomas Wain, of Long Whatton. Pte. Wain was a reservist, and, called up at the commencement of the campaign was one of the first to go out with his regiment. Mr. T. Wain had four sons serving with the colours. Sergeant J. Wain, now in India, and Pte’s E. Wain amd W. Wain, now in France. Pte D. Wain was 31 years of age, and leaves a wife and three children, whose home is at Doc-lea, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
On Friday August 4th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” LONG WHATTON SOLDIER KILLED. Unofficial information has been received by Mr. and Mrs. T. Wain of Long Whatton, that Pte. Wm. Wain, of the Leicesters was killed in action on July 1st. Private Wain who was 22 years of age, and who had been previously wounded, was Mr. Wain’s youngest of four members of the family serving. One, Private D. Wain died of enteric in hospital at Etaples on September 4th 1915. Sergt. J. Wain is serving in India and Sergt. E. Wain of the A.S.C., in France, so William is the second son Mr. and Mrs. Wain have lost in the war. A comrade writing under date July 2nd, says: “I regret to have to announce to you that Will was killed in action yesterday. He begged of me to let you know if anything should happen to him. He was well liked by all, and we miss him very much. He was killed in the German trench and death was instantaneous, he being shot through the head. I express my sympathy to you in your trouble.” Private Wain is the fifth Long Whatton man to make the supreme sacrifice.