Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Bakewell a House Painter, born 1857 in Whitwick, Leicestershire and his wife Ada Elizabeth, born 1867 in Birmingham, Warwickshire. William Thomas was a House Painter and was born in 1895 in Whitwick, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, a sister Elizabeth Evelyn, born 1896 in Whitwick, Leicestershire. In April 1911 the family home was at 33, Primrose Cottages, Bakewell Street, Coalville, Leicestershire.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday April 27th, 1917

Mr and Mrs W. Bakewell, of Bakewell Street, Coalville, on Monday morning, received official confirmation of the death of their only son, Private Wm. Thos. Bakewell, of which they had heard from other sources a few days before. Deceased was in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and the letter from the record office, Warwick, states that he was killed in action on April 9th (Easter Monday). 2nd Lieutenant J. Sowerby has also written as follows: “I am very sorry indeed to have to inform you that your son, Pte. W. Bakewell, was killed on the afternoon of Easter Monday. We had made a successful attack in the morning, and were holding the trenches taken from the Germans. During the afternoon, we were shelled, and one shell dropped in the trench where your son was, killing him and wounding two others. His death was instantaneous, and, therefore, he suffered no pain. He was buried next morning in the churchyard of the village nearby. Your son was a very good soldier. He took a great interest in his work, and was very well thought of by officers, N.C.O.’s and men, who are all exceedingly sorry about his death, and offer you sincere sympathy.”

Another letter received from a comrade states that deceased was one of the best of chums. Private T. Bakewell was 22 years of age, and was at home on leave only eleven weeks ago. He joined the Army in November, 1915, and had been nearly a year in France. He was a good shot, and had acted as a sniper. He always wrote most cheerful letters home, and in the last one received, said the Germans were on the run, and at the rate they were going would soon be in Berlin. Before the war, deceased worked for Mr C. H. March, plumber and painter, High Street, Coalville, by whom his father is also employed.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 5th, 1918.

IN MEMORIAM

Bakewell – In proud and ever-loving remembrance of William Thomas Bakewell, private 2/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, killed in action in the battle of Arras, on Easter Monday, April 9th, 1917, aged 22. The dearly-loved only son of Mr and Mrs W. Bakewell, of Coalville.

“I have fought a good fight
I have finished my course
I have kept the faith.”

Coalville Times article - Friday April 4th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In ever loving memory of William Thomas Bakewell, private, 6th Royal Warwicks, who fell in action at Fresmey le Petit, on Easter Monday, April 9th, 1917.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 19/10/2017