Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Payne, a chimney sweep, born on the 24th July 1870 in Whitwick, Leicestershire (son of John Payne, 1847 and Elizabeth Pettifor, 1848), and his wife Elizabeth Payne (nee Smith, married in the January quarter of 1891 in the Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire district), born on the 13th February 1871 in Belgrave, Leicester and baptised on the 28th May in St. Peter’s Church, Belgrave (daughter of Jarvis Smith, 1836-1911 and Elizabeth Deacon, 1839-1897). William Ewart Gladstone, was a schoolboy and was born in the April quarter of 1898 in Belgrave, his siblings were, Thomas Stanley, born on the 29th June 1893 and Lilian, born in the April quarter of 1895, both his siblings were born in Belgrave, in March 1901 the family home was at 1, Newington Street, St. Michael & All Angel’s, Belgrave, Leicester.
In April 1911 William was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 57, Duxbury Road, Leicester together with his father, a bath attendant, his mother and siblings, Thomas, a boot trade warehouse packer, Lilian, an elastic trade machinist and George Edward, a schoolboy, born on the 22nd June 1906 in Belgrave.
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 Leicester 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 40588.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Killed in action. In the Field. 16/2/17.
Buried in Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, William nominated his father, Thomas as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 16 Feb-17 - The Battalion were in the front line and that advanced parties from 10th YORKSHIRE REGIMENT (21st Division) came to reconnoitre the line. Casualties’ other ranks, “A” Company 2 wounded, “B” Company 1 wounded and 1 killed.
On Tuesday February 27th 1917, The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES” – Private W. Payne, Leicester Regiment, an Old Boy of Bridge Road School, was killed in action on Feb. 16th.
On Tuesday February 27th, 1917, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Official news has been received of the following casualties among Bridge -road Old Boys: - Private J. Parsons, Royal Lancashire’s, killed in action 13th February. Private Parsons had previously been wounded, and his father and two brothers are with the colours. His home was at 155, Green-lane. Pte. W. Payne, Leicester Regt., killed in action 16th February, buried at Vermelles.
On Thursday March 1st 1917, The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – DEATHS. PAYNE. - Pte. William of Leicester Regiment, age 18 years, killed in action on Feb. 16. 1917, second son of Mr and Mrs T. Payne, of 28, Justice Street (late of 282½ Humberstone Road). He gave his life for his country.
On Wednesday March 7th 1917, The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “ROLL OF HONOUR” – (A photograph accompanied the article). Pte. W. Payne, Leicestershire Regt., killed in action Feb. 14th.
On the 17th January 1919, William’s mother Elizabeth Payne, of 28, Justice Street, Leicester made an application for a weekly Army Dependants Pension, which was awarded on the 22nd July 1919 in the sum of five shillings, commensurate on the 6th November 1918.
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