William Bickerton

Forename(s):
William

Surname:
Bickerton

Initial(s):
W

Service Number:
Officer

Rank:
2nd Lieutenant

Regiment:
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), 56th Battalion

Died:
20/09/1917

Aged:
29

Buried:
Oxford Road Cemetery, Ieper (N.B. Formerly interred in Fusilier Wood)

Service History:
Joined the Northumberland Fusiliers early in June 1915. Quickly attained the rank of Sergeant & served as Machine Gun Instructor in various training camps in England.

Obtained a commission as 2nd Lieutenant, 28 March 1917. Served with the Expeditionary Force in France & Flanders from 3 June.

Killed in action at Hollebeke & buried there in the Fusiliers' Wood.

His Captain wrote: 'Your son was killed in the early morning of 20 September, shortly after the commencement of the great battle in which we took part. He was killed instantly by a shell, whilst gallantly commanding his guns... Our machine guns did a lot of execution, & the enemy did his best to find us. I cannot tell you how deeply sorry I am personally at the death of your son... William was one of my best officers & highly popular with all of us. Our part of the attack involved a great deal of preparation. He was a keen & gallant fellow. I am sure you must be proud of him. His place here in this company will be difficult to fill.'

A brother officer, Lieutenant Eckersley wrote: 'The Company went into the line on the 19th inst. for the great push which started yesterday. I was left behind in charge of the camp. No details have yet reached me, except that William was killed within a few minutes of the start, probably by a shell. His loss is a great blow to us all & especially to me, for we were at Bisley together, & joined the Company together. He was an excellent & fearless officer & was highly esteemed by both officers & men. On behalf of Captain Champion, & the whole Company, I beg to tender our heartfelt condolence with you in your bereavement.'
(Sources: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18', Part 5, page 14. Also, Web - fusilier.co.uk/north_east_northumberland_ww1_great_war_casualties/)

Background:
Born about 1888, third son of Thomas & Mary (née Robinson) Bickerton, of 'Crag View', Longhoughton, Lesbury, Northumberland.

Educated at Duke's School, Alnwick, Northumberland.

The 1911 Census records Bickerton living at 21, Hotspur Street, Alnwick & working as an Assistant Grocer.

Four of his brothers also answered the call to arms. At the time of William's death, two were also serving on the Western Front; one was in Ireland; the other was in the South of England.
(Sources: 'UK, De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-18', Part 5, page 14. Also, Web - fusilier.co.uk/north_east_northumberland_ww1_great_war_casualties/)

Local Memorial:
Alnwick, Memorial Plaque in former premises of the DukeÂ’s School (Source: Dudley George; August 2018) Longhoughton War Memorial