Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Lander, a farmer, born 1850 in Knighton, Leicester and his wife Eliza Catherine Lander (formerly Thorpe, nee Odams, married in the 4th quarter of 1888 in the Leicester district), born 1853 in Northampton. William Quinton was born in the 3rd quarter of 1894 in Knighton, he had a step sister, Emily Thorpe, born 1882 in Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was in Church Lane, Leicester. In the 2nd quarter of 1903 in the Leicester district William’s father died aged 53. In the 4th quarter of 1905 in the Leicester district, William’s mother died aged 53. In the 4th quarter of 1909 William’s half sister Emily, married Noel Sibbald Nicol in the Leicester district. In April 1911 William was employed as a bank clerk and was residing at 2, Cross Road, Leicester, this being the family home of his paternal Uncle, William Lander, a retired grocer, born 1842 in Leicester. The tenor bell in St. Margaret’s Church was recast in 1921 at John Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in memory of William, the memorial dedication on the bell reads. “Recast in 1921 in memory of W. Quinton Lander, Cpl. 4th Leicesters, who fell at the Hohenzollern Redoubt, October 13th 1915.” William’s name is also commemorated on the Boy Scouts Association Memorial, Leicester.
William attested into the Territorial Force to serve (One year’s Embodied Service at Home) on the 1st September 1914 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Knighton, Leicester, his age as 20 years and 2 months and his trade or calling as bank clerk. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his half sister, Mrs E. K. Nicol of 5, Mill Hill Lane, Leicester as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10½ inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 35 and 37 inches. His complexion was described as dark, his hair colour was dark brown and he had hazel eyes. His physical development was described as good. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 1st September 1914 in Leicester. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 2525 on the 1/9/14. Embodied service commenced and posted to the 4th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 1/9/14. Appointed Lance Corporal in the field on the 15/5/15. Admitted to the 1st North Midland Field Ambulance on the 3/7/15. Admitted to the 46th Divisional Rest Station on the 6/7/15. Appointed Acting Corporal, (vice Cpl. Lynch promoted) in the field on the 18/9/15. Killed in action in the field on the 13/10/15. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 1/9/14 – 1/3/15, 182 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 2/3/15 – 13/10/15, 226 days. Total service 1 year 43 days. William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals. A letter in William’s record dated the 13th December 1915, from 5, Mill Lane, Leicester, reads: To Captain Lempson, Dear Sir! I have been told that we have to apply to you for the kit of fallen soldiers, my brother 2525 Corporal Lander of the 1/4th Leicesters was killed on Oct. 13th he had some very nice things with him and if we can have them returned we shall be very glad. Yours Sincerely Emily K. Nicol. A further letter dated March 9th 1916, from 5, Mill Lane, Leicester reads: Dear Sir. I received this morning a few letters sent as the personal effects of my late brother 2525 Corporal Lander but his cheque book, silver cigarette case watch etc., have not been sent. Yours Faithfully Emily K. Nicol. The following information was provided by William’s half sister, Emily K. Nicol on the 8th May 1919, and was witnessed and signed by W. R. P. S. Gray, Clerk in Holy Orders, Hungerford Vicarage, Berkshire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier none. Mother of soldier, none. Half blood sister of soldier, Emily Kate Nicol, age 37 of High Street, Hungerford, Berkshire (Left Leicester). 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.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At noon our artillery started to bombard. At 1.00pm our smoke and gas started. At 1.50pm smoke and gas stopped. At 2.00pm artillery lifted and Battn assaulted the HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. Lt Col R. E. MARTIN was wounded early but remained in the fire trench directing operations for nearly 24 hours and until -?- to the dressing station by Brig Gen KEMP. All officers of the Battn either killed or wounded.
The War Diary records: 14 Oct-15 - In the evening the Battn was relieved by part of the 139th Bde and went back to the LANCASHIRE TRENCH. Roll call revealed that 188 NCO’s and men returned. The Official History of the War – Military Operations (France and Belgium 1915 Volume II) provided the following statistics for the 1st/4th Battn Leicestershire Regiment, officers killed 20, other ranks killed 453. Total losses for the day were 138th Bde 64 officers and 1,476 other ranks. 137th Bde 68 officers and 1,478 other ranks.
On Friday November 12th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – MELTON BANK CLERK KILLED. We are sorry to learn that Corpl. W. Q. Lander, of the 4th Leicesters, was killed in action in the course of the charge on the Hohenzollern Redoubt on Oct. 13th. Deceased, whose home was in Leicester, was a clerk at the Melton branch of the London City and Midland Bank.
On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour in which William is shown to have been a pupil at the school between the years 1904 and 1910.