Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry North, a stone quarry worker, born 1859 in Rothley, Leicestershire and his wife Alice North (nee Cufflin, married in the 2nd quarter of 1886 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born 1864 in Anstey, Leicestershire. William was born in the 4th quarter of 1892 in Rothley, his siblings were, Edward, a hosiery trade worker, born 1887 in Anstey and Harry Ernest, born 1891 in Rothley, in March 1901 the family home was in Anthony Street, Rothley. In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home in Anthony Street, Rothley, together with his father a stone quarry worker, his mother and brother Ernest, a cattle medicine agent, also residing in the family home was William’s cousin, Elsie Cufflin, born 1894 in Markfield, Leicestershire. In the 4th quarter of 1914 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district, William married Winifred Gibbins. In the 2nd quarter of 1915 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district, a daughter, Muriel M. North was born, the family resided in Woodgate, Rothley, then moved to Main Street, Markfield.
William attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War, with the Colours and in the Army Reserve.) on the 8th December 1915 in Leicester. He gave place of birth as Rothley, Leicestershire, his age as 23 years and 124 days and his trade or calling as shoe clicker. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 9½ inches in height, weighed 162 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 34¾ and 36¾ inches. He gave his religion as Church of England. After attestation on the 8/12/15 in Leicester he was transferred as Private, service number 27278 to the Army Reserve. Mobilized on the 10/4/16. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment Depot on the 10/4/16. Posted to the 12th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 10/4/16. Posted to the 12th Infantry Brigade Depot on the 11/7/16. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 13/7/16. Disembarked on the 13/7/16. Joined the 12th Infantry Brigade Deport at Etaples on the 13/7/16. Posted to the 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 14/7/16. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 2/8/16. Died in the 38th Casualty Clearing Station from gunshot wounds to both legs on the 26/9/16. Buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, 2½ miles North, North East of Corbie. William was awarded the British War and Victory medals. His widow and child were awarded a weekly pension of 18 shillings and 9 pence to commence on the 9th April 1917. 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 - BERNAFAY WOOD. The Battalion moved up to assembly trenches at 4.00am, 25th September, leaving behind 60 men to act as carriers.
The operations from the 25th to the 29th September 1916 appended.
OPERATIONS ON THE SOMME FROM 25th September to the 30th September 1916. Appendix II.
25th September. The Battalion started from BERNAFAY WOOD at 4.00am, marched through DELVILLE WOOD, and occupied trenches as follows by 6.00am. Headquarters and “D” Company SWITCH TRENCH, “A,” “B” and “C” Companies assembly trenches behind SWITCH TRENCH. The Battalion remained in these trenches till 1.00pm. (Zero being 12.25pm). At 1.00pm “D” and “C” Companies advanced across the open to follow up and occupy trenches vacated by the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT as they advanced, and to support and reinforce them in case of necessity. Two platoons of “D” Company and two platoons of “C” Company reinforced the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT when they were attacked by enemy machine guns in GIRD TRENCH, and they had a good many casualties from these machine guns, Major H. H. EMMERSON (Officer Commanding “C” Company) being killed, and Captain QUAYLE (Officer Commanding “D” Company) wounded. At 2.00pm Headquarters and “A” and “B” Companies advanced in artillery formation, as wounded men stated that the 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT were in the village. Battalion Headquarters were established in BULL ROAD TRENCH, and the Battalion was disposed as follows:- Two platoons of “D” Company in PIONEER TRENCH, with oddments of 8th and 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT “A” Company and the remainder of “C” and “D” Companies in BULL ROAD TRENCH. “B” Company in BULL ROAD support. They remained in these positions during the night of 25th/26th, and these trenches were very heavily shelled during the night.
26th September. The Battalion advanced at 4.30pm preceded by patrols to take the final objective on the northern and eastern outskirts of GUEDECOURT. The barrage was fairly heavy and some few casualties took place. The leading platoons entered the village about 6.30pm and the village was not then being shelled by the enemy. No enemy were encountered in the southern portion of village, but the leading platoons, on reaching the LESBOEUFS - FACTORY CORNER ROAD through village, were heavily sniped and fired at by enemy machine guns. They held on to this line till dusk, when they were at once reinforced by the other platoons, and moved forward with very slight casualties to the orchards on the northern and eastern outskirts of village, and began consolidating. This was continued throughout the night with very slight molestation from enemy. The village itself and approaches to it, and especially its south western edge were, however, very heavily shelled. Headquarters were established at N.26.d.2.8. Touch was established with 62nd Infantry Brigade on the right at N.27.a.5.0., but it was till the morning of the 27th that connection was gained with the 55th Division on the left.
27th September. Consolidation was continued as far as possible by daylight, and during the night the posts on the northern edge were connected up. There was a certain amount of sniping, but the trenches were not heavily shelled. The village itself, and approaches to it were heavily shelled but very few casualties were sustained, as no troops were in the village.
28th September. Situation remained the same. At midnight a strong patrol under 2nd Lieutenant J. B. GARNER and a party of Pioneers went out to GARDEN TRENCH, and made a small post with blocks on either side to deny its occupation by the enemy.
29th September. Situation same. At 9.00pm the Battalion was relieved by the 7th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT The relief was complete by 11.30pm. A certain number of casualties were caused to both Battalion’s by enemy’s bombardment of village and its approaches.
30th September. The Battalion returned to its former bivouac near BERNAFAY WOOD, arriving there at 1.00am. The casualties suffered by the Battalion during these operations, were as follows:-
Officers killed Major H. H. EMMERSON, Captain G. M. G. GILLETT, 2nd Lieutenant W. E. ROBINSON. Officers wounded Captain G. A. QUAYLE, Lieutenant A. V. DAGG, Lieutenant F. WOOLNOUGH, 2nd Lieutenant’s. A. C. NICHOLLS, C. H. HIGSON, A. M. DIXON, E. G. LANE–ROBERTS, E. J. HODGSON, F. GILDING and G. H. BOWEN. Other ranks killed 32, missing 25 and wounded 141.
On Friday October 13th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – ROTHLEY CASUALTIES. Mr. and Mrs. W. Reid, of Anthony-street, Rothley, have received official notification that their only son, Private Sidney Reid, aged 24, died on October 1st at a casualty clearing station from wounds received in action. Private Reid joined the Leicester’s in August 1914, he had been at the front since July, 1915. Formerly he was in the employ of Mountsorrel Co-operative Society. Mrs. North, of Woodgate, Rothley has been officially notified that he husband, Private William North, aged 23, died of wounds received in action on September 26th. Private W. North was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry North of Anthony-street, Rothley, and joined the Leicester’s early this year. He had been at the front about two months. Before enlisting he was in the employ of Messrs. Porter, boot manufacturers, Leicester. He leaves a widow and one child.