Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Myring, a fish and rabbit hawker, born on the 25th December 1873 in Leicester and his wife Florence Myring (nee Hallam, married in the 1st quarter of 1893 in the Leicester district), born 1876 in Leicester. William, a schoolboy was born in the 1st quarter of 1897 in St. Barnabas’s, Leicester, he had one sibling, Florence, born 1899 in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 130, Dorset Street, Leicester. In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at 160, Lancaster Street, Leicester, together with his father, a fish hawker, his step mother, Sarah Ann Myring (nee Pugh, formerly McCall, married in the 1st quarter of 1906 in the Leicester district), born on the 25th September 1874 in Kempston, Bedfordshire and his siblings, Florence, a schoolgirl, Doris McCall, born on the 18th June 1906 and Edward, born on the 28th January 1908, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester. William also had another sibling, Edna May, born in the 4th quarter of 1899 in Leicester and died in the 4th quarter of 1899, and the following half-blood siblings, Edna May, born in the 4th quarter of 1910 and died in the 4th quarter of 1910, aged 24 days. Thomas Lawrence, born on the 3rd May 1913, Phyliss Beatrice, born on the 29th April 1916 and George William, born on the 13th October 1919, the latter four half-blood siblings were all born in Leicester.
William enlisted/attested into the Army Reserve (Special Reservists) on the 24th February 1913 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 11119. He gave his place of birth as St. Barnabas, Leicester and age as 17 years. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as shoe hand (fitter).
His medical examination took place in Leicester on the 24th February 1913 and recorded his apparent age as 17 years, that he was 5 feet 4 inches in height, weighed 112 lbs, had a chest measurement of between 32 and 34 inches, he had blue eyes and his hair colour was brown, his physical development was described as good. The following distinctive marks were noted, mole small of back, mole on belly. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Edward Myring, 181 Lancaster Road, Leicester. Sister Florence, 200, Dorset Street, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. 24/2/13.
Posted 3rd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 24/2/13.
Commenced. Recruit Training. Pte. 24/2/13 – 21/6/13.
Awarded. 3rd Class Certificate of Education. 17/4/13.
Mustered. Present. 4/7/13 – 3/8/13.
Mobilized. 5/8/14.
Posted. 2nd Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 19/3/15.
Embarked. Southampton to join the British Expeditionary Force, France. 19/3/15.
Landed. 20/3/15.
Wounded. In the Field. 21/5/15.
Admitted. 19th Brigade Field Ambulance. Contusion from fall. In the Field. 9/8/15.
Killed in action. Place not stated. In the Field. 25/9/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 24/2/13 – 18/3/15. 2 years 23 days
Expeditionary Force, France. 19/3/15 – 25/9/15. 191 days.
Total Service. 2 years 214 days
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
William’s surviving service record amounts to a total of thirteen pages, of which only six pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in fair condition and offer a reasonably accurate overall description of some of the events that took place during his period of his service.
The War Diary records: 25 Sept-15 - At 5.30am the Battalion was in positions of readiness in accordance with orders in four lines opposite their objective with bombing parties, sandbag parties and carrying parties all arranged and in position. At 6.00am the first line got over the parapet quickly followed by the second, the left had to right form to get in line with the right as the trench ran back from a salient near the centre. As the first two lines went out the third and fourth filed into the vacant positions in the firing line. The gas affected a number of our men, and the smoke caused a dense fog and direction was difficult. Casualties began at once and the third line was ordered out to fill up gaps. Owing to the thick smoke it seemed likely that gaps would occur on the flanks and at 6.07am the fourth line was sent out with special instructions to maintain touch with the units on either flank. At about 6.10am the left were over the German parapet and our flag was seen flying on their lines. The left went forward with such dash that they outstripped the 2/8th GURKHAS and came in for a lot of fire from rifles and maxim guns from our right. This caused a good many casualties including all the officers and most of the NCOs of “A” Company which was the extreme left. Undeterred the men went on, got over the uncut wire and reached the road with parties of the 2/8th GURKHAS and gained their objective. In the meantime, our right had not fared so well. They went forward in good line under a heavy fire till held up by the German wire. A number of our men here were collected in the ditch in front of the German wire waiting for developments. Officer casualties. Killed Captain F. H. ROMILLY D.S.O., Captain E. C. DEANE, R.A.M.C. Died of wounds 2nd Lieutenant M. W. BROWNE. Wounded Lieutenant Colonel H. GORDON D.S.O., Captain W. C. WILSON, Lieutenant H. H. PHILLIPS, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. TANNER, 2nd Lieutenant H. H. HEMPHILL, 2nd Lieutenant V. E. ELLINGHAM, 2nd Lieutenant C. C. BAILEY, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. GROSSMITH. Slightly wounded Major F. LEWIS, Captain D. L. WEIR. Gassed 2nd Lieutenant W. WILSON. Missing and believed killed Lieutenant W. T. PICKIN, 2nd Lieutenant R. E. S. LODGE. Missing known to have been wounded 2nd Lieutenant C. G. WOODBOURN. Missing and no trace 2nd Lieutenant W. J. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant E. A. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant T. R. LONGCROFT. Rank and file casualties. Killed 72. Wounded 217. Gassed 42. Missing 96. Wounded slightly but did not quit Battalion 3. What was left of the Battalion were relieved from the front line by the 2/39th GARWHAL RIFLES at 6.30pm and moved into support and local reserve just in rear. Before the operations began the Battalion worked for a week in strengthening the front line and preparing the defences behind. Four very strong lines were constructed capable of resisting the enemy’s bombardment.
On Saturday, October 16th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – LOCAL CASUALTIES – Information has been received from the War Office that Pte. WM. MYRING, of the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, has been killed in action on September 25th. He was 18 years of age, and lived with his parents at Mount-road, Leicester. He is an old Bridge-road boy.
On Monday, November 15th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. – FALLEN LEICESTERS. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Private W. MYRING, 2nd Leicester’s. Killed in action. A Bridge-road Old Boy. Parents live at Mount-road.