| Regiment | Rank | Service No | Place of Birth | Date of Death | Age | Burial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd/5th South Staffs | Private | 9276 | Deepfields | 23 Sept 1917 | 27 | Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium |
Genealogical Data
Birth of William Webb registered December quarter 1887 in Dudley.
1891 Census
Meadow Lane, Coseley, nr Bilston, Staffs.
Samuel Webb (31, Iron Worker, born Bilston), his wife Emma (31, born Deepfields), and their 8 children: Susannah (8, Scholar, born Deepfields), John (6, Scholar, born Deepfields), William (4, born Deepfields), Elizabeth (1, born Deepfields).
1901 Census
18 Meadow Lane, Coseley, nr Bilston, Staffs.
Samuel Webb (40, Canal Labourer, born Moxley), his wife Emma (41, born Sedgley), and their 8 children: Samuel (18, Blacksmith’s Striker, born Sedgley), John (16, Sheet Iron Worker, born Sedgley), William (13, Coremaker, born Sedgley), Elizabeth (11, born Sedgley), George (8, born Sedgley), Thomas (6, born Sedgley), Ada (3, born Sedgley), and Dora (11 months, born Sedgley).
1911 Census
18 Meadow Lane, Coseley, nr Bilston, Staffs.
Samuel Webb (51, Labourer, born Coseley), his wife Emma (52, born Coseley), and 5 of their 8 children: William (23, Labourer at Colliery, born Coseley), George (19, Grinder, born Coseley), Thomas (16, Moulder, born Coseley), Ada (13, born Coseley), and Dora (10, born Coseley).
Personal Life
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission and ‘Soldiers Died in the Great War’ show William Webb belonging to the 1st South Staffs when he was killed in action of 23rd September 1917. He is shown as having no known grave, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot memorial, near Ypres, Belgium. This appeared strange as the 1st South Staffs were in France in September 1917, and well behind the fighting line. William’s Medal Roll showed that he had transferred to the 2nd/5th South Staffs at some stage, and he was serving with them at the time of his death. The CWGC have accepted the Medal Roll as documentary proof, and are going to modify his battalion on their records.
Cause of Death
On 19th September 1917, the 2/5th South Staffs moved from Winnezele, just over the border in France, to Brandhoek, 4 miles west of Ypres. On the 21st September, the battalion moved to Goldfish Chateau, just a mile west of Ypres before taking over a section of the front line near Wieltje on the 22nd September.
On the next day, 23rd September 1917, the battalion suffered from a very heavy German artillery barrage in the general area of Hill 35 and Hill 37, near Wieltje. Additionally ‘A’ Company was subject to a German counter attack near Hill 37 which was repulsed with the assistance of ‘B’ Company.
During the day the 2/5th South Staffs had 8 men killed in action including William Webb. William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
Lest Woodsetton Forget 