Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Mary Elizabeth Tinkler, a former general domestic servant, born 1876 in Codnor, Derbyshire. William Arthur was born in the 1st quarter of 1896 in the Melton Mowbray Union Workhouse, Leicestershire, in March 1901 he was residing with his mother in the Union Workhouse, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray. In March 1901 William was employed as a farm plough driver and was residing as a servant at Mount Pleasant, Hose, Leicestershire.
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 Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his age as 19 years 214 days and his trade or calling as farm servant, and his present home address was Potter Hill Farm, Melton Mowbray. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother, Mary Tinkler of the Union Workhouse, Melton Mowbray, later changed to 6, Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 4 inches in height, weighed 134 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34½ and 36 inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. 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 12534 on the 2/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 24/9/14. Posted to Folkestone on the 28/2/15. Posted to Perham Down on the 8/4/15. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Awarded 28 days Field Punishment No. 1, in the field on the 19/10/15. Admitted to the 49th Field Ambulance in the field, suffering from an ICT Toe (inflammation of connective tissue) on the 2/11/15. Wounded in action, in the field on the 15/7/16. Admitted to the 64th Field Ambulance in the field, suffering from concussion from a shell on the 15/7/16. Transferred to the 34th Casualty Clearing Station, in the field on the 15/7/16. Transferred to the St. John’s Ambulance Hospital in Etaples, on the 15/7/16. Posted to the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 9/9/16. Joined the 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 9/9/16. Posted missing in action on the 25/9/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 2/9/14 – 28/7/15, 330 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 25/9/16, 1 year 59 days. Total service, 2 years 24 days. William was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Mrs. E. Turner of 30, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray on the 30th October 1919, and was witnessed and signed by R. Brownlow, J.P., Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, none. Full blood brothers or sisters of soldier, none. A memorandum in William’s service record from the War Office, dated the 5th November 1919 gives instructions that any personal property belonging to the late No. 12534, Private William Tinkler, 9th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, should be despatched to Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Tinkler, 37, New Walk, Leicester. William’s surviving service documents are in a very 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: 25 Sep-16 - The morning was spent in making final preparations for attack. Enemy shelling not heavy and a few casualties were sustained. At 12.35pm waves were formed up in front of trenches. At 12.37pm the advance commenced, “C” and “D” Companies in extended order, “A” and “B” Companies in artillery formation, enemy immediately commenced an extremely intense and deep barrage. At 12.45pm the first two platoons of “D” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but sustained heavy casualties. All the Company officers becoming casualties, 2nd Lieutenant A. E. PETER, 2nd Lieutenant W. S. GILBERT, Company Sergeant Major POTTERTON were all killed, 2nd Lieutenant CLARK was wounded. The remnants of the first 2 waves of “C” Company reached GIRD TRENCH, but owing to machine gun fire from the right, and the Brigade on the right, having failed to take GIRD TRENCH, the party were all killed or wounded. 2nd Lieutenant RENNIE was killed in GIRD TRENCH, Lieutenant HENWOOD was wounded. Captain WEBB wheeled the 3rd and 4th waves of “C” Company and formed a defensive flank down SUNKEN ROAD facing right. At 1.00pm Captain WEBB was wounded and Company Sergeant Major RHODES was killed. “C” Company suffered extremely heavy casualties from machine gun fire. “A” and “B” Companies advanced and established themselves in NEW TRENCH, BULL TRENCH and PATROL TRENCH and shell holes in the rear. Battalion Headquarters advanced from LEWIS TRENCH to PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Captain ALLBERRY led “A” Company forward but was immediately killed by machine gun fire from the right flank. Lieutenant HARDY, 2nd Lieutenant LEWIS, Company Sergeant Major RICE and many of Company becoming casualties through the same cause. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG was wounded in the arm in PATROL TRENCH. At 1.37pm Battalion Headquarters advanced to BULL TRENCH. At 2.00pm the remainder of Battalion Headquarters viz: Lieutenant Colonel HAIG, Captain POPHAM (8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT), Lieutenant TOOTH and 3 orderlies advanced to NEW TRENCH. Captain POPHAM and the 3 orderlies were wounded. At 2.35pm the advance hung up on account of machine gun fire and rifle fire. Enemy still occupying GIRD TRENCH on right of SUNKEN ROAD. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG and Lieutenant TOOTH advanced to NEW TRENCH and finding it empty, crossed over to GOAT TRENCH. Only dead and wounded men were found in GOAT TRENCH, accordingly Lieutenant Colonel HAIG and Lieutenant TOOTH in anticipation that the front two Companies had reached GIRD TRENCH, again advanced to PILGRIMS WAY where 40 other ranks of the 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were found without any officer. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG decided to remain and hold on with the 40 other ranks until reinforcements arrived to clear GIRD TRENCH on right. At 3.00pm connection with 55th Division in GIRD TRENCH on the left of PILGRIMS WAY was established. A bombing group of 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT was organised and bombed down GIRD TRENCH on the right of PILGRIMS WAY for 50 or 60 yards. Many of the enemy were killed and 12 were taken prisoner. Owing to the lack of bombs, a block was established, and a Lewis gun posted near the block. Lieutenant Colonel HAIG sent numerous reports on the situation to Brigade Headquarters, only two of which reached Brigade, the orderlies being either killed or wounded. Heavy shelling all the time. At 8.00pm connection with Brigade was established through 2nd Lieutenant KELLY. During the night the ROYAL ENGINEERS constructed a strong point at N.32.a.1.9. The night was spent digging in and consolidating position. The enemy seemed to be working round behind PILGRIMS WAY, but did not attack. From zero (12.35pm) to 5.30pm, the enemy kept up a heavy and very deep barrage becoming intense at times.
On Friday November 3rd 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – PTE. W. TINCKLER WOUNDED. – Mrs. Tinckler, who for a number of years has made her home at the Melton Workhouse received news yesterday that her son was posted as missing after an action. He had previously been slightly wounded in the first great attack by the British. On leaving the workhouse, Pte. Tinckler went to work for Mr. Manchester, Potter Hill Farm, and enlisted at the outbreak of the war.
On Friday November 16th 1917 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT NEWS.” – AB KETTLEBY. – FORESTERS MEMORIAL SERVICE. – In memory of three of our fallen heroes, Bros. Privates Arthur Gale, Wm. Henry Sutton and Wm. Tinkler who have all been killed at the front, a Foresters’ memorial service was held in the Parish Church, on Sunday evening, conducted by the Court Chaplain, Bro. The Rev. E. P. Doudney, M.A. There was a large attendance including the relatives of the deceased. The Vicar and the other Officers all wore their sashes of office and a large number of members attended to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased brothers. The Vicar read the Foresters’ funeral oration and also the funeral service for fallen soldiers, and special Psalms were sung and special lessons read, the hymns being appropriate to the occasion. The Vicar announced that 50 of their members had joined H.M. Forces. Nine of these had been killed at the front, three are missing, two are prisoners of war, two are at home wounded, one is in hospital wounded, and one had received the Military Medal. The Vicar took for his text Ecclesiastes xii., 7. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” He said as Foresters, in that service, they had done all they could to pay their last tribute of respect to their deceased fellow members who had so nobly given their lives for them at home, and sad as was the thought that they were laid to rest in a foreign land, yet he was thankful to say one day father, mother, brother and sisters, and they as members would have a happy re-union with them in the realms above. He spoke comforting words to the bereaved families and pleaded for all present to live such lives in the present world as would fit them for the life eternal. Miss Eva Taylor ably presided at the organ and as an incoming voluntary played “Oh rest in the Lord” and at the close of the service “The Dead March” from Saul.