Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Henry Close JP., a farmer and slate merchant, born 1857 in Collyweston, Northamptonshire and was baptised on the 12th April 1857 in the Parish Church, Collyweston and his wife Emma Close (nee Collins, married on the 3th May 1896 in Carlisle, Cumberland), born 1873 in Tickencote, Rutland. William Collins, was born on the 28th May 1897 in Collyweston, he had one sibling, a brother Geoffrey Robert, born 14th March 1900 in Collyweston and baptised on the 9th May 1900 in the Parish Church, Collyweston, in March 1901 the family home was at The Poplars, New Road, Collyweston. William’s mother died in the 4th quarter of 1907 in the Stamford, Lincolnshire district, aged 34. In April 1911 William was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at Geeston House, Ketton, Rutland, together with his widowed father, a farmer and slater and siblings, Geoffrey and Monica Mary Hope, born 24th March 1903 in Collyweston and was baptised on the 26th April 1903 in the Parish Church, Collyweston, also residing in the family home was William’s paternal Uncle, Walter Close, who was assisting on the family farm, born 1856 in Collyweston and his paternal Cousin, Mary Close, a domestic house keeper, born 1882 in Edenham, Lincolnshire. William’s father died on the 17th June 1935 in Oakham Memorial Hospital, Rutland, aged 78.
William entered Stamford Grammar School, Lincolnshire in 1906, later continuing his education at Wellingborough School, Northamptonshire, and was a member of the Cadet Training Corps. He was gazetted to the Northamptonshire Regiment and embarked for the front in August 1916. He was killed by machine gun bullets while on reconnaissance near Croiselles, France. He was an accomplished all round sportsman winning his colours for cricket and football and took great interest in getting up sports for the men when in billets. His Colonel wrote:- “He was deservedly popular with all ranks being a good soldier and leader of men. He was much loved by the men and highly esteemed by his brother officers.”
William’s Army enlistment documents are not presently available, and as such all that is known of his military service is that he was gazetted into the Northamptonshire Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant and posted to the 3rd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France in August 1916. He was subsequently attached to the 6th Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment and it was during operations with this Battalion near St. Leger that he was killed in action on the 20th March 1917. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 20 Mar-17 – ST. LEGER. Battalion made a reconnaissance in force assisted by Cavalry on both flanks – the LUCKNOW Brigade having men come up as well as the Corps Cavalry. At 7:30am four Companies in line “A,” “B,” “D” and “C” from right to left.
“A” Company were unable to emerge from the wood at the North East corner of ST. LEGER owing to heavy shelling and Machine Gun fire and suffered considerable casualties.
“B” Company worked up the valley dislodging an advanced post of the enemy made considerable progress in spite of heavy shelling.
“C” and “D” Companies advanced on the slope North West of the valley but after going 400 or 500 yards came under heavy Machine Gun fire, as well as considerable shelling.
At about 10:30am it was seen that CROISELLES was too strongly reinforced to make any further advance – Considering we were in front of it and the fact that we were supported by only one Battery ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY and one Battery ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY - practicable. Orders were given for Companies to withdraw to their original outpost positions. This was done in perfect order and all Companies were back by about 12:30. Except about 40 men of “D” Company, who were in a fold of ground – not visible from the front, but not possible to emerge from in day light. They decided to wait till dark. However about 4:00pm a party of Germans came out from CROISELLES on their right and threatened to outflank them. They therefore came back in small parties without casualty – and having however one or two wounded men – These were recovered by the 8th DEVONSHIRE REGIMENT who relieved the Battalion that evening. Battalion proceeded to billets in ACHIET LE GRAND.