Private William Mead served with the 7th Bedfordshire Regiment. He was born in Woodborough and his parents, James & Emily Mead, lived at 42 Sheep Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, just a few yards from where we live today at Lansdowne Grove. The record suggests William lived with his uncle in Bristol. 

William’s service number was 14823. He served in 7th Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment in the rank of Private. The 7th Battalion (The Shiney Seventh) was formed at Bedford in September 1914, as part of 'K2' - Lord Kitcheners 2nd call to arms for another 100,000 men to leave their civilian lives and enlist into the rapidly expanding British Army. They would be joined in 1916 by conscripts after the British passes the compulsory military service bill on 6th January 1916.we don’t know if William joined the battalion as a volunteer or as a conscript.

The 7th Battalion served in France and Flanders between their arrival in July 1915 and their disbandment in May 1918. The battalion won a well deserved reputation and served with distinction, winning numerous gallantry medals - including two Victoria Crosses.

William Mead was killed in action on 1 July 1916 in France on the first day of the Somme Offensive. His battalion was one of two assaulting battalions of 54th Brigade, part of 18th (Eastern) Division, in the opening assault. The initial assault at 07:30 following an all night artillery bombardment. As the barrage lifted on a dry sunny day the assaulting Battalions stormed the German first line trenches.  The objective for William’s battalion was the Pommiers Redoubt, a well fortified position behind the German second line trench system.  The objective was secured by 08:30 and the battalion was relieved the following day having suffered 320 casualties.

 

William Mead rests in the Dantzig Alley British Cemetery near Mametz in France.   Mametz is a village about 8 kilometres east of the town of Albert. The Cemetery is a little east of the village on the north side of the road (D64) to Montauban.

His grave reference is II. D. 5.  Never forgotten. We shall visit one day.

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