Prince of Wales’ Own (West Yorkshire) Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Service no. 23299
Died of Wounds 1st August 1917, aged 27
Story
William was born at Normanton. He was the nephew of Mr and Mrs Charles Crossland, Westfield House, High Street, Kippax. He lived with his aunt and uncle when he worked at both New Silkstone and Haigh Moor Collieries. He enlisted in the Army at Castleford.
Prince of Wales Own 2nd Battalion
On 14th August 1914 the Battalion returned from service in Malta to Hursley Park, Winchester to join the 23rd Brigade of the 8th Division. On 5th November 1914 they mobilised for war and landed at Le Havre and engaged in various actions on the Western Front. We have no record of where William fought, but during 1917 the Battalion was engaged in two significant actions: The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and The Battle of Pilckem Ridge.
The Battle of Pilckem Ridge, 31st July – 2nd August 1917, was the opening attack of ‘The Third Battle of Ypres’, also known as ‘The Battle of Passchendaele.’ It took place in the Ypres Salient area of the Western Front.
The Allied attack had mixed results; a substantial amount of ground was captured and a large number of casualties inflicted on the German defenders, except on the tactically vital Gheluvelt plateau on the right flank. After several weeks of changeable weather, heavy rainfall began in the afternoon of 31 July and had a serious effect on operations in August, causing more problems for the British who were advancing into the area devastated by artillery fire and which was partly flooded. The 8th Division advanced towards Westhoek and took their objectives relatively easily. The southern flank then became exposed to the concentrated fire of German machine-guns from Nonne Boschen and Glencorse Wood. It would seem likely that this is where William was wounded in action. William is buried at Lijssenhoek Military Cemetery, Popringe, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Grave XVI. J. 6A
Kippax Roll of Honour 