Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Thomas Flanders, a domestic man servant, born 28th June 1866 in Clerkenwell, Middlesex and his wife Harriett Flanders (nee Cox, married on the 9th May 1887 in the Register Office, Chesterfield, Derbyshire), born 1866 in Cottesmore, Rutland. William Cox, was born on the 28th April 1896 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, his siblings were, Robert, a shoe trade clicker, born 31st July 1887 in Newbold, Derbyshire, Emily, born 14th July 1890, Ann (Harriett), born 16th September 1893, John Peer, born on the 25th January 1895, Thomas, born 18th November 1897 and Charles Edward, born 22nd October 1899, the latter 5 siblings were all born in Wellingborough, in March 1901 the family home was at 124, Midland Road, Wellingborough. In April 1911 William was employed as a domestic house boy and was residing in the family home at Woodhouse Fields, Quorn, Leicestershire, together with his father, a domestic butler, his mother and siblings, John a cycle maker’s apprentice, Thomas, a schoolboy, Charles, a schoolboy, Florence Jane, born 23rd October 1901 in Wellingborough, Ethel Mary, born 17th February 1904 and Ellen May, born 17th May 1906, the latter two siblings were all born in Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire, and Amy, born 23rd May 1910 in Woodhouse, Leicestershire. William first entered the theatre of war on the 4th May 1915 in France, he accidentally drowned in the River Tigris. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. His older brother John fell in action.
The War Diary records: 18 May-16 - Very hot, nothing of note.
On Friday June 16th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “MELTON AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. Tuesday. The following are among the casualties in the Leicestershire Regiment announced by the Official Press Bureau, the town shown against each name, being the home of his next-of-kin:- Wounded: 17230 Pte. F. Darby (Bottesford). 9652 Pte. C. P. Durrance (Melton Mowbray). Wednesday. Leicestershire Regiment: Died Flanders, 17026, Pte. W. C. (Quorn). Wounded: Hayes 16040, Pte. F. L. (Somerby). Norfolk Regiment: Calven 14396, Pte. C. (Ragdale Hall). Wounded: shock-shell: Leicestershire Regiment: Bromwich 21465, Pte. B. (Mountsorrel).
On Friday October 20th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – QUORN CASUALTIES. – MR. AND MRS. FLANDERS SECOND LOSS. Private J. P. Flanders of the Leicester’s, according to private letters, has been killed in action. He was a son of Mr. R. Flanders, of Quorn (formerly in service with the late Colonel and Hon. Montagu Curzon, and then with Mrs. Arthur King at Gar-?-, Woodhouse). Mr. and Mrs. Flanders had three sons in the Army, and have now lost two, one having been drowned in the Tigris last year. Private Hollingworth (28), of the Leicester’s, a Quorn man who worked with his father in the market garden and nurseryman’s business, has been killed. He joined the colours eight months ago. Private S. Blackshaw, Durham Light Infantry, of Quorn, is dangerously wounded and in hospital. His brother was killed in the Gallipoli Peninsula. Private G. Bell, Private S. North, Sergt. Redhead and Private L. Brewin, all of the Leicester’s and belonging to Quorn are in hospital suffering from wounds.