Billy was in a trench alongside my Great Grandfather William King on 20th January 1916 with the 13th Essex Regiment, “Westham Pals”, while they were undergoing shelling.   Between 2 to 5 p.m. the trench took a direct hit, killing my William King instantly.  William’s death is referred to in the Battalion’s War Diary and confirmed in the Log-book; where I discovered that six others were “wounded” including Billy. John Lincoln (whose number was one in line before William’s on attestation) died later that evening at the Casualty Clearing Station, Bethune. Billy was evacuated to No.2 General Hospital, seriously injured.  Sadly, he died nearly a month later of his injuries. I have a photo’ of our William among 20 men of the 13th Essex; some of them look very young;  I wonder whether one of them could be Billy.  It would be great to share this, and other information, with relatives who may wish to keep this as part of their family history.  

Karen Harvey