Born 1892 – Died 11th June 1916
18th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
William James Strong was born in London in late 1892, the eldest son of William and Annie Strong. By 1911 William, aged 18, was living in Waterend House, Wheathampstead and acting as assistant farm manager for his father, a farmer and cattle dealer. He enlisted into the 18th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. This was a 'Bantam Regiment' raised in January 1915 in Bury and formed from men who were under the regulation height of 5ft. 3 ins., mainly miners and farm workers, who were physically strong. We have no details of William's height. The Battalion landed in France in January 1916 and was involved in holding the Allied line. William, by then an acting Lieutenant, was killed on the 11th June 1916 near Bethune. He was 23.
He is remembered with Honour in the Rue-des-Berceaux Military Cemetery, Richebourg-l’Avoue, Pas de Calais, France.1.F.7.
From the Herts Advertiser and St. Albans Times, Saturday June 24 1916 'In reference to the death in action on June 11th of Second Lieut. William J. Strong of the 18th Lancashire Fusiliers, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Strong of Waterend, Wheathampstead, which was announced in last weeks “Herts Advertiser” the following letter has been received by Mr Strong from the Colonel of his son’s battalion:- “It is with a sad heart that I write to tell you that your dear son was killed last night when returning to our lines after a raid. I cannot express on paper how much I feel for you and yours in your great sorrow. He was the most popular officer in my battalion with all ranks, and without exaggeration, I may say that he was loved by his men. Always so cheerful and full of humour, he has done excellent work since his arrival, and I had only recently recommended him for promotion. He was my best patrol officer, being absolutely fearless, and always so cool and collected. During a recent bombardment he showed exceptional courage and initiative, and for his service on this occasion was personally thanked both by the Divisional and Brigadier-Generals. Had he lived he would most certainly have been awarded the Military Cross for his work last night. I feel his loss both as an officer and a friend more than I can express on paper.'
No record of attending St John's School
| LEMSFORD WAR MEMORIAL 1914 - 1918 |
| TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR |
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The Battalion landed in France in January 1916 and was involved in holding the Allied line. William, by then an acting Lieutenant, was killed on the 11th June 1916 near Bethune. He was 23.
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Battles of WW1
Battle of the Somme
1 July - 13 November 1916The British suffered around 420,000 casualties, the French 195,000 and the Germans around 650,000. Only in the sense of relieving the French at Verdun can the British have claimed any measure of success.
Battle of Passchendaele
31 July - 6 November 1917Passchendaele village lay barely five miles beyond the starting point of his offensive. Having prophesied a decisive success, it had taken over three months, 325,000 Allied and 260,000 German casualties
The First Battle of Ypres, 1914
October 19 to November 22, 1914First Battle of Ypres saw the BEF sustain 7,960 killed, 29,562 wounded, and 17,873 missing, while the French incurred between 50,000 and 85,000 casualties of all types. To the north, the Belgians took 21,562 casualties