C A M E O O F T H E M O N T H
Each month I will put on the website the story of a soldier who died during the First World War.
They are selected at random.
Each month I will put on the website the story of a soldier who died during the First World War.
They are selected at random.
La Brique Military Cemetery No 2
S/11012 Rifleman William Allard
12th Battalion Rifle Brigade
Died on Saturday 1st April 1916, aged 40
Grave reference I. T. 20.
Died on Saturday 1st April 1916, aged 40
Grave reference I. T. 20.
William Allard
William was born at home, son of Charles and Matilda Allard, of 24 Myrtle Street, Hackney, London. He had older siblings that included Grace, Mary Ann, Charles and Alfred and a younger sister, Matilda. He was educated locally and then became a warehouse porter. William was married to Kate Helen Allard, of 27 Stonebridge Road, South Tottenham, London. They had eight children including, William Henry, Kate Helen, John Charles, Victor, Frederick, Winifred Mary, Daisy and Grace.
William volunteered on Wednesday 26th May 1915. He was 5ft 4in tall, with a 35in chest, weighed 116lbs, had a satisfactory physical development, a sallow complexion, grey eyes, fair hair and four vaccination marks on his left arm, with three irregular scars on his right upper arm. He was sent for training and left to join the Battalion with a draft on Wednesday 1st December 1915 whilst they were serving in northern France.
The trenches were relatively dry as they were frozen solid so whilst not wading about in the mud the men had to suffer the cold — a number being hospitalised by frostbite. Tours of duty continued, exchanging the front line and billets with the KRRC. Whilst in billets on Friday 10th December an enemy bombardment began, the first of thirty shells killed 2nd Lieutenant Henry Thoreau Cullis and Private Thomas Ernest Abbott, they are buried in Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, K.18 and K.22 respectively, the only casualties from the Battalion.
William marched to Bac St Maur on Wednesday 15th for training then undertook a tour of duty before returning to billets where Christmas was celebrated. He returned to the trenches on Tuesday 28th near ‘Spy Farm’ via the communication trench ‘VC Avenue’ with the Battalion occupying eighteen hundred yards of line. It was a grim situation with the trenches over a foot deep in cold, muddy water. January 1916 began relatively quietly and the patrols that went out at night had little to report. The Battalion was relieved on Tuesday 11th January and marched to billets in Sailly. The next day they paraded at 10.30am then marched nine miles to Strazeele, on Thursday 13th to Morbecque where the Battalion was in Corps Reserve. William was able to relax, clean his kit, then himself, before assisting in tidying up the camp and pumping out the excess water that had made it a mud bath. Early on Saturday 22nd the Brigade moved en masse to Steenvoorde where, eventually, billets were found by late afternoon. Training continued until Saturday 5th February when they marched to ‘Camp B’, near Poperinghe, that was considered by all ranks to be very good and comfortable.
At 4.30pm on Friday 11th the Battalion marched to Poperinghe Station where gumboots and other kit was issued before entraining at 7.30pm. They marched from Vlamertinghe to Château des Trois Tours, Brielen, arriving during a barrage on the village. Due to considerable confusion it took some time before the Battalion arrived at ‘Dawson’s Corner’, where guides met them taking them into the trenches on the eastern side of the Yser Canal. The communication trenches were in dreadful condition and could only be used at night. Upon arrival in the front line there were large stretches where no proper trenches existed. The enemy launched a bombing attack at 2.00am on Saturday 12th that was accompanied by an artillery barrage and heavy trench mortar fire. Rapid fire and grenades drove the German back to their line leaving five of their number dead in No Man’s Land. A German patrol returned shortly afterwards who jumped into a Battalion trench, one of them was shot dead and another was taken prisoner, the rest retired at speed. The shelling increased in intensity, coming to a crescendo between 4.10am and 4.30am, with over three hundred field pieces firing on the sector. The front line was being badly knocked about as casualties mounted. Captain Kenneth Rees Habershon came up to the front from Battalion Headquarters to assist but due to the heavy shelling he took shelter in a dugout. Almost immediately a shell burst on the dugout that demolished it and mortally wounding Captain Habershon, he is buried in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, I.F.16. With the attack subsiding, work began on repairing the trenches, many being almost obliterated. Whilst defending the line the Battalion lost twenty-two men killed, three officers and eighty-eight men wounded with thirty-nine men listed as missing. Communication between the front and the rear was difficult with all telephone wires being cut. As soon as dusk fell on Sunday 13th the Royal Engineers arrived to repair the destroyed bridge and tried to re-establish communication. William and his comrades were relieved to the area around ‘Colne Valley’ but it took hours to negotiate their way due to appalling conditions with deep water-filled shell holes littering the whole sector. Everyone was exhausted, thirsty and very hungry. Patrols were sent out and a group of five men were found, dazed and almost unconscious but were evacuated by stretcher later that night. William was relieved to a hutted camp at Elverdinghe Château at 6.30pm on Tuesday 15th. He and his chums collapsed onto their cots to get some much-needed rest. The next morning the Battalion was reorganised, re-equipped and all ranks got properly cleaned up then rested. During a parade a number of congratulatory messages were read out that had been received from General Headquarters, Corps, Division and Brigadier General John William Gascoigne Roy.
William was due to return to the trenches on Saturday 19th but shortly before leaving camp the enemy launched another attack, supported by gas. The Battalion was stood to but William was able to get another night sleep in full kit but ready to move at a moments notice. Late on Sunday 20th he returned to the much foreshortened line since the enemy had pushed it back, it was, however, relatively quiet. At 2.00pm on Tuesday 22nd the artillery laid down a heavy barrage on the German front line that was returned in kind at 4.00pm. William was relieved on Wednesday 23rd to entrain to Poperinghe then marched three miles to a camp. The move from the front was not easy or pleasant due to the heavy snow that had fallen earlier in the day. William and his chums were delighted to have some time to rest and clean up over the ensuing days. At 6.00pm on Thursday 2nd March William returned to the front once more. He undertook fatigues when not in the front line where, on Thursday 9th, an officer and three men were wounded by shrapnel. Billets were provided in around the main square in Poperinghe. It was a busy town with soldiers coming and going to and front the front, men relaxing and enjoying all that the town had. Whilst in billets, on Wednesday 12th, two officers joined the Battalion: Lieutenants Reginald Simon McNamara Creagh (who died of wounds on Wednesday 5th December 1917 and is buried in Kensal Green (St Mary’s) Roman Catholic Cemetery, 2.1062) and Reginald Ruddle (who later was promoted to Captain, awarded the Military Cross and died on Wednesday 24th July 1918. He is buried in Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, V.G.10).
At 6.00pm on Tuesday 14th the Battalion paraded and marched to the station. They entrained an hour later to the Convent in Ypres. The Battalion marched to the trenches where they relieved the 7th KOYLI that was completed by 1.00am. They were pleased to see that a lot of good work had been undertaken on the trenches to improve them, however, much more work was required. ‘Bridge 6D’ across the Yser Canal was heavily shelled on Wednesday 15th that wounded six men. During the night the enemy machine gunners were particularly active whilst patrols were out.
The Battalion was relieved on Wednesday 22nd with each Company making its own way to ‘Camp D’. The next day was spent cleaning up, including a bathing parade, whilst the officers reorganised the Battalion.
William’s last visit to the trenches began at 5.00pm on Thursday 30th. He marched to the station in Brandhoek and entrained to close to the Yser Canal. William was deployed to the front line. The relief was quiet and it remained so at the front for the next twenty-four hours. William was near ‘Forward Cottage’ that came under fire and he was killed.
The Chaplain wrote to Kate Allard: “Your husband died bravely doing his duty.”
Kate was sent a package of William’s possessions that included two purses with twenty coins, an Identity Disk, a pocket book, papers, photographs and a gospel.
William has no personal gravestone inscription.
He has no personal gravestone inscription.
William’s son, Lance Corporal William Allard, died on Saturday 17th February 1917 who is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial.
William volunteered on Wednesday 26th May 1915. He was 5ft 4in tall, with a 35in chest, weighed 116lbs, had a satisfactory physical development, a sallow complexion, grey eyes, fair hair and four vaccination marks on his left arm, with three irregular scars on his right upper arm. He was sent for training and left to join the Battalion with a draft on Wednesday 1st December 1915 whilst they were serving in northern France.
The trenches were relatively dry as they were frozen solid so whilst not wading about in the mud the men had to suffer the cold — a number being hospitalised by frostbite. Tours of duty continued, exchanging the front line and billets with the KRRC. Whilst in billets on Friday 10th December an enemy bombardment began, the first of thirty shells killed 2nd Lieutenant Henry Thoreau Cullis and Private Thomas Ernest Abbott, they are buried in Y Farm Military Cemetery, Bois-Grenier, K.18 and K.22 respectively, the only casualties from the Battalion.
William marched to Bac St Maur on Wednesday 15th for training then undertook a tour of duty before returning to billets where Christmas was celebrated. He returned to the trenches on Tuesday 28th near ‘Spy Farm’ via the communication trench ‘VC Avenue’ with the Battalion occupying eighteen hundred yards of line. It was a grim situation with the trenches over a foot deep in cold, muddy water. January 1916 began relatively quietly and the patrols that went out at night had little to report. The Battalion was relieved on Tuesday 11th January and marched to billets in Sailly. The next day they paraded at 10.30am then marched nine miles to Strazeele, on Thursday 13th to Morbecque where the Battalion was in Corps Reserve. William was able to relax, clean his kit, then himself, before assisting in tidying up the camp and pumping out the excess water that had made it a mud bath. Early on Saturday 22nd the Brigade moved en masse to Steenvoorde where, eventually, billets were found by late afternoon. Training continued until Saturday 5th February when they marched to ‘Camp B’, near Poperinghe, that was considered by all ranks to be very good and comfortable.
At 4.30pm on Friday 11th the Battalion marched to Poperinghe Station where gumboots and other kit was issued before entraining at 7.30pm. They marched from Vlamertinghe to Château des Trois Tours, Brielen, arriving during a barrage on the village. Due to considerable confusion it took some time before the Battalion arrived at ‘Dawson’s Corner’, where guides met them taking them into the trenches on the eastern side of the Yser Canal. The communication trenches were in dreadful condition and could only be used at night. Upon arrival in the front line there were large stretches where no proper trenches existed. The enemy launched a bombing attack at 2.00am on Saturday 12th that was accompanied by an artillery barrage and heavy trench mortar fire. Rapid fire and grenades drove the German back to their line leaving five of their number dead in No Man’s Land. A German patrol returned shortly afterwards who jumped into a Battalion trench, one of them was shot dead and another was taken prisoner, the rest retired at speed. The shelling increased in intensity, coming to a crescendo between 4.10am and 4.30am, with over three hundred field pieces firing on the sector. The front line was being badly knocked about as casualties mounted. Captain Kenneth Rees Habershon came up to the front from Battalion Headquarters to assist but due to the heavy shelling he took shelter in a dugout. Almost immediately a shell burst on the dugout that demolished it and mortally wounding Captain Habershon, he is buried in Poperinghe New Military Cemetery, I.F.16. With the attack subsiding, work began on repairing the trenches, many being almost obliterated. Whilst defending the line the Battalion lost twenty-two men killed, three officers and eighty-eight men wounded with thirty-nine men listed as missing. Communication between the front and the rear was difficult with all telephone wires being cut. As soon as dusk fell on Sunday 13th the Royal Engineers arrived to repair the destroyed bridge and tried to re-establish communication. William and his comrades were relieved to the area around ‘Colne Valley’ but it took hours to negotiate their way due to appalling conditions with deep water-filled shell holes littering the whole sector. Everyone was exhausted, thirsty and very hungry. Patrols were sent out and a group of five men were found, dazed and almost unconscious but were evacuated by stretcher later that night. William was relieved to a hutted camp at Elverdinghe Château at 6.30pm on Tuesday 15th. He and his chums collapsed onto their cots to get some much-needed rest. The next morning the Battalion was reorganised, re-equipped and all ranks got properly cleaned up then rested. During a parade a number of congratulatory messages were read out that had been received from General Headquarters, Corps, Division and Brigadier General John William Gascoigne Roy.
William was due to return to the trenches on Saturday 19th but shortly before leaving camp the enemy launched another attack, supported by gas. The Battalion was stood to but William was able to get another night sleep in full kit but ready to move at a moments notice. Late on Sunday 20th he returned to the much foreshortened line since the enemy had pushed it back, it was, however, relatively quiet. At 2.00pm on Tuesday 22nd the artillery laid down a heavy barrage on the German front line that was returned in kind at 4.00pm. William was relieved on Wednesday 23rd to entrain to Poperinghe then marched three miles to a camp. The move from the front was not easy or pleasant due to the heavy snow that had fallen earlier in the day. William and his chums were delighted to have some time to rest and clean up over the ensuing days. At 6.00pm on Thursday 2nd March William returned to the front once more. He undertook fatigues when not in the front line where, on Thursday 9th, an officer and three men were wounded by shrapnel. Billets were provided in around the main square in Poperinghe. It was a busy town with soldiers coming and going to and front the front, men relaxing and enjoying all that the town had. Whilst in billets, on Wednesday 12th, two officers joined the Battalion: Lieutenants Reginald Simon McNamara Creagh (who died of wounds on Wednesday 5th December 1917 and is buried in Kensal Green (St Mary’s) Roman Catholic Cemetery, 2.1062) and Reginald Ruddle (who later was promoted to Captain, awarded the Military Cross and died on Wednesday 24th July 1918. He is buried in Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, V.G.10).
At 6.00pm on Tuesday 14th the Battalion paraded and marched to the station. They entrained an hour later to the Convent in Ypres. The Battalion marched to the trenches where they relieved the 7th KOYLI that was completed by 1.00am. They were pleased to see that a lot of good work had been undertaken on the trenches to improve them, however, much more work was required. ‘Bridge 6D’ across the Yser Canal was heavily shelled on Wednesday 15th that wounded six men. During the night the enemy machine gunners were particularly active whilst patrols were out.
The Battalion was relieved on Wednesday 22nd with each Company making its own way to ‘Camp D’. The next day was spent cleaning up, including a bathing parade, whilst the officers reorganised the Battalion.
William’s last visit to the trenches began at 5.00pm on Thursday 30th. He marched to the station in Brandhoek and entrained to close to the Yser Canal. William was deployed to the front line. The relief was quiet and it remained so at the front for the next twenty-four hours. William was near ‘Forward Cottage’ that came under fire and he was killed.
The Chaplain wrote to Kate Allard: “Your husband died bravely doing his duty.”
Kate was sent a package of William’s possessions that included two purses with twenty coins, an Identity Disk, a pocket book, papers, photographs and a gospel.
William has no personal gravestone inscription.
He has no personal gravestone inscription.
William’s son, Lance Corporal William Allard, died on Saturday 17th February 1917 who is commemorated on Thiepval Memorial.