Announcement

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 01:54 PM

Birth Index from Ancestry:

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DCM Trio - WILLIAM WILTSHIRE - Birth Index JAN-FEB-MAR 1896 (1).JPG (16.4 KB, 24 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 01:55 PM

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DCM Trio - WILLIAM WILTSHIRE - Birth Index JAN-FEB-MAR 1896 (2).jpg (157.9 KB, 24 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 01:57 PM

In the 1901 Census for the Parish of Walcot in the town of Bath, Somerset, shows William and family still living at No. 3 Mount Pleasant West. At this time he was 5 years old and had 3 older sisters and one younger brother George. The list of members as indicated below.

William Wiltshire age 38 a police constable, born in Inglesbatch, Somerset
Elizabeth Wiltshire his wife age 39 born in Hampstead, London
Elizabeth G Wiltshire, daughter age 13 born in Walcot
Rosina Wiltshire, daughter age 8 born in Walcot
Ethel Wiltshire, daughter age 6 born in Walcot
William Wiltshire, son age 5 born Walcot
George Wiltshire, son age 2 born Walcot

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DCM Trio - WILLIAM WILTSHIRE - 1901 England Census (1).JPG (54.9 KB, 24 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 01:58 PM

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DCM Trio - ALFRED WAGSTAFFE - 1901 England Census (2).jpg (221.2 KB, 24 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:00 PM

Fast forward 10 years and the 1911 Census shows that most of the family had now moved and were at No. 13 Melrose Terrace, Fairfield Park, Bath. It appears that his oldest Sister, Elizabeth, and also Ethel were no longer in the household. William is now listed as a Grocer’s errand Boy. It also appears a younger Sister happened along the way around 1902 and was 9 years old.

William Wiltshire 48 police constable born Inglesbatch, Somerset
Elizabeth 49 (married 25 years 7 children 6 still living) born Hampstead, London
Rosina Hester 18
William John 15 grocer’s errand boy born Walcot, Bath
George Herbert 12
Ivy Eliza 9

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DCM Trio - WILLIAM WILTSHIRE - 1911 England Census (1).JPG (49.5 KB, 23 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:01 PM

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DCM Trio - WILLIAM WILTSHIRE - 1911 England Census (2).jpg (185.8 KB, 23 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:10 PM

WAR SERVICE

William’s Service Records have not survived, but through research, I have been able to piece together his service and highlights of his War Service.

In August 1914 World War I begins. Walter joins up in the first few weeks of the War and enlists with the 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry with the Service Number 3-7036. He finally enters the fray when he lands in Boulogne, France on 07 August 1915 as part of the 61st Infantry Brigade in the 20th Division.

By 1916 William has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and is wounded in the leg at the Battle of Guillemont on 03 September 1916 while still serving with the 7th Battalion.

Below is a little background and history of this battle is which William was a part of.

The Battle of the Somme: the Battle of Guillemont, 3-6 September 1916.

The Battle of Guillemount was a subsidiary attack of the Somme Offensive, and launched at midday on 03 September 1916 under the protection of a creeping barrage (of 25 yards per minute) as part of a wider attack. The Battle was primarily intended to distract German attention away from the Romanian front where the Romanians were coming under increasing pressure, although the capture of Guillemont had been repeatedly attempted (and failed) earlier in July and August.

With its maze of underground tunnels, dugouts and concrete emplacements, Guillemont was a veritable fortress and an unquestionably tough nut to crack, as evidenced by the earlier failures of the British attacks during the previous two months.

The 03 September attack finally saw Guillemont fall to the British. Other targets during the wider attack, such as High Wood and the Schwaben Redoubt, remained however firmly in German hands. On the banks of the Somme the French succeeded in taking both villages of Clery and Omiecourt.

The attack continued until 6 September, with the British capturing Leuze Wood on 4-5 September (referred to as 'Lousy Wood' by the troops), some three miles east of the 1 July front line. The French meanwhile captured a further village, Bouchavesnes, on 4 September.

This village is situated about six and a half miles east of Albertads.

Guillemont held out for some time during the Somme battles, with attacks here on the 30th of July and the 8th of August before the village was finally taken on the 3rd of September, 1916. The 20th (Light) Division was instrumental in taking the village, and this action is described in their Divisional History. In the morning, their line was just to the west of the village, probably just a little closer than the position of Guillemont Road Cemetery today and, further north, running past the site of Guillemont station. Thier objective was to take the village, and continue east past the crossroads where their memorial (see below) stands today.

The attack had been postponed several times, partly due to poor weather, but the plan was to attack the village from north, west and south. Assembly trenches were dug north of Guillemont Station to aid the northern attack, and at 6 a.m. on the 3rd of September, 1916, a bombardment commenced. The infantry attacked here at noon. The attack also employed 'push-pipes', and liquid fire, innovations which were also employed by the British elsewhere on the Somme battlefields in 1916. The attack went well, although there were casualties, and the second objective (the eastern side of the village) was taken by 1.30 p.m., although there was fierce hand to hand fighting within the village of Guillemont itself. The third objective (see the 20th Division Memorial details below) was reached later, but the final objective could not be taken that day. Attacks to the north near Ginchy were not successful, and the Germans counterattacked at Guillemont. However, the next day (the 4th of September) the 20th Division troops pushed forwards again, and reached their final objective. They were supported by troops from the 16th (Irish) Division (who also took Ginchy on the 9th of September), and there are memorials to both Divisions in or near Guillemont.

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1.JPG (131.6 KB, 22 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:11 PM

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2.JPG (78.6 KB, 21 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:14 PM

William is soon sent back to England to recover from his wounds.

While he was overseas, William’s younger Brother George enlists on 25 May 1916 shortly after his 18th birthday. George joins up with the Royal Marine Light Infantry Portsmouth Division. He also sees extensive service and as part of the Expeditionary Force in France is wounded in the thigh by gunshot on 21 August of 1918. He eventually is demobilized at Portsmouth on 29 March 1919 and received a £10 War Gratuity.

A copy of George's Service Record:

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DCM Trio - WILLIAM WILTSHIRE - Brother - George Herbert Wiltshire Service Record.jpg (101.6 KB, 21 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:15 PM

Closeup of entries:

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3.jpg (153.0 KB, 21 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:17 PM

William eventually returns from Hospital and transfers to the 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry.

It was with this Battalion that he was in action on 29 March 1918 at the First Battle of Arras in the when he was involved in an action that led to his award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

First up some background on the battles around this time:

The First Battle of Arras, 1918: 28 March - a British defensive victory

In the days following 21 March 1918 a great mass of German heavy artillery was transferred northwards to the Arras front. There, as part of the long-planned ‘Mars’ offensive, the task of the ‘battering train’ would be to blast a path through well-established British defences either side the river Scarpe and rekindle the forward momentum of the German 17th and 2nd Armies.

Twenty-nine German divisions were eventually assembled on a 33-mile front from the Somme to Arleux for a general attack on British Third Army positions; but with Arras as the principal objective, the major breakthrough assault was planned against British forces defending the city on a 10-mile front between Authuille and Oppy. Aware of an imminent attack all possible defensive preparations had made been made.

At 3am on Thursday 28 March the early morning stillness was shattered by the chaotic din of a terrific German bombardment. Shortly after 7am German infantry attacked. Unaided by fog and, in places, going forward in mass formations, they met with devastating fire from British artillery and well-sited machine guns.

South of the Scarpe German infiltrations via communication trenches forced 3rd and 15th Divisions back from their front lines by 8.30am; gradual withdrawals were made to the rear of the Battle Zone; despite great pressure no effective breakthroughs were made. The greatest German efforts were made north of the Scarpe: attacking across difficult ground enemy infantry successfully progressed up the valley between 4th and 56th Division positions forcing British fighting withdrawals to the Battle Zone; despite repeated attacks the line held. On the evening of 28 March the costly German assaults on Arras were abandoned.

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1.jpg (81.0 KB, 20 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:20 PM

In the early hours of 29 March 1918, the action of which William earned his DCM is documented in the War Diary Entries during that time with the 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry.

During this action William was wounded yet again. He was part of a Platoon led by Lieutenant Prince that attacked over open ground to capture a trench occupied by the Germans.

The actual Page for March 28 and 29, 1918 in which William was involved in:

1.

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DCM Trio - WILLIAM WILTSHIRE - SOM LI War Diary Entry for DCM Action 29-03-1918 a.jpg (150.9 KB, 20 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:21 PM

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DCM Trio - WILLIAM WILTSHIRE - SOM LI War Diary Entry for DCM Action 29-03-1918 b.jpg (105.8 KB, 20 views)

**Darrell** · 10-30-2012, 02:25 PM

A couple of books written chronicle the exploits of William.

1. THE HISTORY OF THE SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY (Prince Alberts 1914-1919) by Everard Wyrall:

Attached Files

2.JPG (164.0 KB, 20 views)

Announcement

DCM WW1 Trio Group to William John Wiltshire - Somerset Light Infantry

DCM WW1 Trio Group to William John Wiltshire - Somerset Light Infantry

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