Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Nurse, a brickyard labourer, born 1849 in Rothley, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Nurse (nee Hallam, married in the 2nd quarter of 1869 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1851 in Rothley. William Alfred, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1889 in Rothley, his siblings were, Sarah Ann, a hosiery trade linker, born 1870, Clara, a hosiery trade linker, born 1873, Elizabeth, a hosiery trade winder, born 1874, Rebecca, a hosiery trade winder, born 1877, Agnes, a schoolgirl, born 1879, Thomas Henry, a schoolboy, born 1883, Joseph, born 1887 and Edith Emily, born 1891, all his siblings were born in Rothley, in April 1891 the family home was at Woodgate, Rothley. In March 1901 William was residing in the family home at Woodgate, Rothley, together with his father, a brickyard labourer, his mother and siblings, Sarah, a hosiery trade linker, Elizabeth, a wool trade winder, Rebecca, a cardigan jacket mender, Agnes, a hosiery trade linker, Thomas, a farm labourer, Joseph, a painter, Edith, Sidney Arnold, born 1894 and Frank, born 1896, the latter two siblings were both born in Rothley. On the 29th October 1907 William’s father died in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district, aged 59. In April 1911 William was employed as a bricklayer and was residing at Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, this being the family home of his married sister Elizabeth Yeomans, her husband, George Yeomans, a boot trade worker, born 1878 in Thurcaston and their son Nigel Cecil Yeomans, born 1903 in Rothley, also residing with the family was a niece, Inez Linda Preston, born 1903 in Rothley. William later emigrated to Australia and returned to enlist.
NARRATIVE OF EVENTS 22nd APRIL – 3rd MAY.
22 Apr-15 – On the evening of the 22nd April the Regiment was due to relieve the EAST SURREY REGIMENT in the trenches at the far point of the YPRES SALIENT – parading at 7.00pm but at about 6.30pm it was reported that the French were retiring North of ST. JEAN. On investigation this proved to be correct and a serious German advance appeared to be threatening the North of the salient – troops were retiring. Colonel STEPHENSON therefore ordered the Battalion to dig a line of trenches facing North and North East by North about 300 yards North of ST. JEAN. The BUFFS came up on our right and extended the line – We then came under the orders of Colonel GEDDES. At about 9.20pm orders were received to send two Companies to guard the pontoon bridges on the YSER CANAL and “B” and “D” Companies were despatched under Major NEALE. Remaining two Companies extended and took a line to the canal bank. At 3.30am orders were received to send the 2 Companies holding the line to the canal forward to C.20. to discover the French right - deploy to the right and gain touch with the BUFFS on the right. Colonel STEPHENSON ordered an advance at once in artillery formation and as it got light we found a CANADIAN REGIMENT in C.20. Our advance guard was sent ahead to find out if a ridge was held by enemy. Shortly after that enemy opened fire on us and a few casualties occurred. We formed a line in extension to the right of the CANADIAN REGIMENT and gained touch with the KING’S OWN ROYAL LANCASTER REGIMENT who were a further extension to the right. Colonel STEPHENSON and Adjutant went to find Officer Commanding KING’S OWN ROYAL LANCASTER REGIMENT and arranged with him for CANADIAN’S, 2 Companies 3rd MIDDLESEX REGIMENT and KING’S OWN ROYAL LANCASTER REGIMENT to work in conjunction. No trace could be found of the French right nor of the BUFFS. KING’S OWN ROYAL LANCASTER REGIMENT were then advised to move away somewhere right away from us and our right was left entirely en l’air. An advance then ensued and we got up to within about 600 – 800 yards of the enemy’s position, working with the CANADIAN’S on our left. The last part of the advance was under fairly heavy rifle fire at about 800 yards range. Here we got some cover and were ordered to cooperate with CANADIAN’S who received orders to dig themselves in. This we did though there was not much digging done as we had good cover. This point was reached about 9.00am and as ground was absolutely open and flat for 800 yards to enemy’s position, it was agreed by Colonel STEPHENSON in consultation with an officer of the CANADIAN’S that further advance without support was impossible. Remained in this position all day being heavily shelled for 5 hours and almost suffocated at times. During afternoon CANADIAN reinforcements arrived on our left coming through heavy shell fire and a further attack was ordered. This ended as far as 3rd MIDDLESEX REGIMENT was concerned in very heavy casualties, the whole of those who did the advance being practically wiped out. We got to within 300 – 400 yards of enemy where we came under concentrated cross fire of not less than 8 machine guns and severe frontal rifle fire. The advance ended. During the night of the 23rd some 40 NCO’s and men of 3rd MIDDLESEX REGIMENT who were left dug themselves in somewhere amongst the CANADIAN’S. I have never been able to find out where. The only part of 3rd MIDDLESEX REGIMENT who returned were the advanced guard under Lieutenant RENNICK (attached and since killed) and 2 days later the 40 NCO’s and men who were with the CANADIAN’S. The casualties were 4 officers killed, three wounded, one missing, and about 200 NCO’s and men. The only ones who came back were the Adjutant who was with Colonel STEPHENSON when he was killed in the extreme forward point reached by that portion of the attack. The Regimental Sergeant Major and one Private. This ends all narrative of the 2 Companies under Colonel STEPHENSON and leaves the 2 Companies under Major NEALE. The remainder of “A” and “C” Companies as they came back were amalgamated to form a 3rd Company and were reinforced by a draft of 60 which arrived.
24-28Apr-15 – On the 24th the Battalion was moved from the pontoon bridge and placed in reserve at ST. JEAN where we were under continuous shell fire and had to move out into the fields and dig ourselves into dugouts – remaining there till evening of 26th when we were ordered to go to General Headquarters line as reserve to Lahore Division. The men were employed all night improving these trenches. On night of 27th we were ordered by 85th Brigade to relieve EAST SURREY REGIMENT in trenches and were actually on our way there via VALORENHOEK when orders were cancelled and we returned to General Headquarters line taking up same trenches as before. At 2.30am we were ordered to move to a position on the left of the EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT who were in the General Headquarters line on our left. Moved as ordered. At early dawn 28th we received orders to proceed to VALORENHOEK as reserve to 85th Brigade. Moved and dug ourselves in - under artillery fire all day. Ordered at night (28th) to take over trenches from EAST SURREY REGIMENT. Moved up and took over as much as possible of trench line and worked all night on new trench.
28-Apr-15 – Evening – 3May-15 – Occupied fire trenches of right sector of Brigade line of trenches. During all these days we were under close artillery fire – trench mortars, bombs etc, and were harassed by mining operations of enemy and reverse fire into most of our trenches, the Germans having a trench, in between the fire trenches and the support (new) trench, in which they had machine guns and worked every night. Every man except sentries was worked all night every night and as much as was possible during day as well in addition to continual long spells of standing to arms. No relief in fire trenches was possible as the whole Battalion was in fire trenches. There was a great shortage of water as the water tins mostly arrived half empty though despatched full by our own Quartermaster. I have not considered it necessary to include all the incidents etc, which occurred during the 5 days in trenches as they are mostly known to you already. Total casualties as far as can be ascertained at present from 22nd April to 3rd May. 5 officers killed. 5 officers wounded. 1 officer missing – Lieutenant JACKSON – he was sent out on patrol to the front North of ST. JEAN on the night of the 22nd April and has not been heard of since. Other ranks killed, wounded or missing 325.
On Tuesday, August, 17th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – There is unfortunately no reason to doubt that Private W. A. NURSE, a native of Rothley and brother of Mr. J. Nurse, 18, Westcotes-drive, Leicester, who was earlier reported missing, has been killed in action. This official intimation received by the relatives is based on information obtained in letters from the front, from which it would appear that Private Nurse was killed on or about April 22nd. Private Nurse, who was 26 years of age, and a son of the late Mr. Henry Nurse, of Rothley, came over from Australia to enlist and joined the 3rd Middlesex Regiment.
On Friday August 20th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – ROTHLEY MAN’S DEATH. – There is unfortunately no reason to doubt that Private W. A. Nurse, a native of Rothley, and brother of Mr. J. Nurse, of 18, Westcotes Drive, Leicester, who was earlier reported missing, has been killed in action. The official intimation received by the relatives is based on information obtained in letters from the front, from which it would appear that Private Nurse was killed on or about April 22nd. Private Nurse, who was 26 years of age, and a son of the late Mr. Henry Nurse, of Rothley, came over from Australia to enlist and joined the 3rd Middlesex Regiment.