Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Henry Barzillai Deacon, an agricultural labourer, born in the April quarter of 1864 in Fleckney, Leicestershire (son of Job Deacon, 1837-1909 and Emma Burton, 1835) and his wife Mary Ann Deacon (nee Sharman, formerly Iliffe, married in the October quarter of 1894 in the Market Harborough, Leicestershire district), born on the 31st March 1861 in Fleckney (daughter of Nicholas Sharman, 1816 and Ann Grant, 1821). William Nicholas was born in the July quarter of 1896 in Fleckney, his siblings were, John Henry, born in the July quarter of 1895, George Arthur R., born on the 30th September 1897, Thomas Leonard, born on the 26th February 1899 and Winifred Mary, born on the 28th December 1900 and half-blood siblings, Laura Annie Iliffe, a machinist, born on the 26th January 1883, Margaret Emily Iliffe, a machinist, born on the 24th March 1885 and Archibald James M. Iliffe, a hosiery trade worker, born on the 24th December 1888, all his siblings were born in Fleckney, in March 1901 the family home was at Fen Yard, Arnesby Road, Fleckney.
In April 1911 William was employed as an oil dealer and was residing in the family home at 24, Kings Road, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, together with his mother and siblings, Arthur, a rubber trade worker, Leonard, a schoolboy, Winifred, a schoolgirl and Gladys Emma, a schoolgirl, born on the 29th May 1904 in Fleckney.
William’s older brother John Henry, fell in action on the 23rd October 1914.
FAMILY NOTE: William’s mother had previously married Hubert Mattock Iliffe on the 13th September 1880 in the Church of St. Nicholas, Fleckney, Hubert was born in the July quarter of 1859 in Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire and baptised on the 28th August 1859 in St. Wilfred’s Church, Kibworth Beauchamp. Hubert died aged 26 years in August 1885 in Fleckney and was interred on the 22nd August in Fleckney Churchyard, he was the son of Simeon Iliffe, 1830-1910 and Emma Mattock, 1826-1903.
William also had two further half-blood siblings, Alice Maud Emma Iliff (Iliffe), born in the January quarter of 1881 in Fleckney and baptised on the 5th June 1881 in the Church of St. Nicholas, Fleckney and Edith Ann Iliff (Iliffe), born in the January quarter of 1882 in Fleckney and baptised on the 31st January 1882 in the Church of St. Nicholas, Fleckney, and who died in Fleckney, aged 3 weeks in February 1882 and was interred on the 8th February in Fleckney Churchyard.
William’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Market Harborough into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 10/22408.
Posted. To 10th (Reserve) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Transferred. To 9th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action at Bienvillers, France. 24/5/16.
Buried in Hannescamps New Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Headstone inscription. “Rest in the Lord.”
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, William nominated his mother Mary Ann Deacon as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 24 May-16 - TRENCHES, HANNESCAMPS. In accordance with pre-arranged scheme saps about 80 yards long were run out during the night from 67 and 73 with 5 fire bays at the end. No casualties were suffered. The Battalion supplied a working party of 3 officers and 195 other ranks who worked from midnight to 2.15am on sap 67. A covering party of 1 officer and 20 other ranks was supplied to cover party working on sap 73. The enemy shelled the trenches on and off all day, about 200 shells being dropped in the area. Casualties 2 killed, 2 wounded.
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