Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John H. Helsdon a carpenter and joiner, born 1852 in Burnham Market, Norfolk and his wife Mary Ann Helsdon (nee Cunnington, married 1874), born 1855 in Oakham, Rutland. William was a schoolboy and was born in 1883 in Oakham, Rutland, his siblings were, John Henry, a schoolboy, born 1881, George, born 1888, Arthur, born 1891 and Robert, born 1888, all his siblings were born in Oakham, Rutland, in April 1891 the family home was at Deans Lane, Oakham with Barleythorpe, Rutland. In April 1911 William was employed as a domestic labourer, and was residing at 4, Gas Street, Oakham, Rutland this being the home of his sister Mary, a housekeeper, born 1877 in Oakham, Rutland, also residing at this address were his siblings, John, a builders, labourer, Robert, a builders labourer, George, a builders labourer, Arthur, a railway labourer, Florence, a domestic kitchen maid, born 1892, Charles, an upholsterer’s errand boy, born 1896 and Frank, a schoolboy, born 1898, the latter three siblings were all born in Oakham, Rutland. In the 3rd quarter of 1915, William’s sister Mary, married Thomas N. Munday in the Oakham, Rutland marriage registration district. William had a further sibling with whom he had never resided, Harriet E., born 1876, in Oakham, Rutland. In the second quarter of 1914 William married Elizabeth Catherine Hall in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire marriage registration district, they had one child, a son, William, born 1915 in Melton Mowbray, Leics. William was a member of the Oakham Detachment of the Leicestershire Territorial Force, and on the outbreak of war at once gave his name for foreign service. He embarked for France on the 28th November 1914. His younger brother Frank, who had never served overseas, died in Hull, Yorkshire from sickness whilst serving with the Leicestershire Regiment. On Friday April 9th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – STATHERN SOLDIER KILLED. – The following is the copy of a letter received by Mrs. Helsdon, of Stathern:- “It is with the deepest regret that I write you about the death of your husband, Lance Corporal W. Helsdon. He was a very capable non-commissioned officer and beloved by all the men of my company who came in contact with him. It was on the morning of March 10th that the regiment made an attack on Neuve Chappelle at about 10.00am. My company entered the village and entrenched themselves beyond it. Your husband was sitting smoking with two other men, in a small ditch, when suddenly he fell forward, and on examination it was found that he was dead, a bullet having gone through his arm and stomach. His death was instantaneous. He was shot by a sniper from one of the houses in the village of Neuve Chappelle. It may be some consolation to know that this sniper was afterwards killed by one of our officers. Your husband was buried on the battlefield. – R. A. Lowther, Lieutenant.” Deceased was 31 years of age, and has three brothers serving at the front one of whom is wounded.
On Friday April 16th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “HEAVY LEICESTERSHIRE CASUALTIES.” – MEN WHO FELL AT NEUVE CHAPPELLE. – OFFICIAL LISTS. – The official lists of casualties published during the past week contain the names of numerous representatives of the Leicestershire Regiment, several of whom will be recognised as belonging to Melton Mowbray and district. Reported from the base, 24th March.
KILLED.
Ball (11054), Private A., Barker (10872), Private A., Bates (12314), Private W., Betteridge (9239), Lance Corporal T., Bishop (11078), Private J. H., Bosher (9534), Private H., Bradley (6131), Lance Corporal A., Bradley (11776), Corporal G. J., Branson (9838), Private F., Brooks (12142), Private B., Brown (11185), Private H., Brown (8631), Private S. W., Carter (11125), Private W., Congreve (8282), Private F., Conway (5393), Private A., Cooke (9898), Private E. A., Corby (8485), Private W. H., Cornish (10358), Sergeant J., Cousins (6007), Private C. E., Cox (8829), Lance Corporal F. J., Croucher (8854), Private L., Cunnington (12090), Private H., Davis (9923), Private F., Elson (7096), Lance Corporal F. A., Emery (8269), Private W., Ferguson (9277), Private R. E., Garton (9939), Private E., Green (11801), Private G., Hall (12041), Private E., Hallam (6473), Private O., Hayes (8740), Drummer D., Helsdon (6021), Lance Corporal W., Hicks (10718), Private E., Hinckley (9160), Private L. J., Holt (11718), Private C. H., Holt (12093), Private W., Hopkinson (12383), Private J., Hyde (8199), Private J. W., Lake (9242), Private H., Latham (12468), Private W. S., Lee (11330), Private E. H., Lees (5329), Sergeant E., Littlejohn (8708), Private T., Locks (8961), Private L., McHugh (12700), Private A., Mansfield (9034), Private H., Morgan (8412), Private A., Morre (5661), Private F., Neat (5342), Sergeant J., Needham (6400), Private H. S., Peacock (11043), Private G., Potterton (8959), Private W., Poyser (12070), Private J. G., Randle (6164), Private L., Reynolds (10162), Private J. S., Robinson (8732), Private P., Rowley (9863), Private W., Sanders (9225), Private U., Sheffield (12078), Corporal J. D., Shipsides (6396), Private E., Skelcey (8825), Private R., Soden (11262). Private W. A., Tansley (7898), Lance Corporal W. J., Taylor (12412), Private F. W., Towndrow (5708), Lance Corporal E., Twigg (7466), Sergeant J., Vine (10426), Private W., Ward (10951), Private W. R., Wardle (6399), Private W., Wareham (12045), Private H., Warner (9285), Private A. H., Warner (9864), Private O., Watson (11669), Private J., White (9522), Private A., Woodford (9045), Private A. F. The War Diary for the 12th March records. The enemy artillery shelled PORT ARTHUR. On the 12th March at 5.15am the Germans counter attacked and A Coy at D. was called up but this counter attack broke down on the right at 100yards from our trenches. On the left they occupied the trench vacated by the 2nd/2nd GURKHAS and advanced from there direct on the 2nd/3rd GURKHAS. They were received with frontal fire from the GURKHAS and enfiladed by B Coy and one Machine Gun under Capt McINTYRE and few returned to their trench. At 9.00am a white flag was seen in this trench and at 9.30am a Coy of the 1st/4th GURKHAS advanced as there was no further movement by the enemy a party under 2nd Lt McINTYRE under fire from enemy behind white flags rushed to the trench and assisted the GURKHAS in clearing it of the enemy, many of whom were killed or wounded, the remainder surrendering to the 1st HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY further north. Information received at 11.00am the SIRHIND Bde supported by JULLUNDER Bde was going to attack in easterly direction, but no attack took place although troops were formed up behind front line, owing to open nature of ground and lack of cover they suffered somewhat heavily. At 3.37pm received information that GARWHAL Bde would remain in possession of line. At 6.00pm FEROZEPORE Bde came up but by 11.00pm it was decided that attack would not take place. Heavy artillery shelled PORT ARTHUR from 1.00pm to 2.15pm. Battn HQ’s and ½ D Coy moved to D. at 3.00pm. JULLUNDER and FEROZEPORE Bde withdrawn about 11.30pm. The War Diary for the 13th March records. Heavy shelling in neighbourhood of D. and NEUVE CHAPELLE during the morning. Snipers very active. At 12.30pm it was reported by a Gunner observing officer that the enemy were collecting on the line of LAYES river S.5.b to M.36.c. Orders were issued by Bde at 5.15pm for relief of line by SIRHIND Bde (Appendix E). Operational orders issued at 6.30pm (Appendix F). At 5.30pm information was received that appearances were in favour of the enemy attacking. Relief completed at midnight 13th/14th March all quiet and Battn marched to L’EPINETTE via F. Bde HQ’s RUE DES BERCEAUX – QUEEN MARY ROAD – LA COUTURE – ZELOBES and LOCON ROAD arriving at billets at 6.00am 14th March.