Pte
William Denby
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1897 |
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Place of birth: Keighley, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 12044 |
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Enlistment place: Keighley, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Veldhoek, Geluveld, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 83 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal — 16/02/1920 |
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Victory Medal Medal — 16/02/1920 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private William Denby of the 10th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)part of the 69th Brigade of the 23rd Division fought in the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as the Battle of Passchendaele. On the 20th of September 1917 the 23rd Division took part in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge, a stage of the Third Battle of Ypres.
William Denby of Kayleigh, West Yorkshire was 18 years old at the outbreak of the First World War and the recorded date of his First Entry into the Theatre of War is 26th August 1915.
On the morning of 20th September 1917 the 23rd Division attacked with two brigades; the 68th and 69th. The 69th brigade attacked with 11th West Yorkshire regiment, 9th Yorkshire Regiment and 10th Duke of Wellington's. “B” and “D” Companies of the 10th Duke of Wellington's took Northampton Farm with ease, however behind it was a string of 12 pillboxes which caused many casualties. These were eventually taken and cleared.
“A” and “C” companies met with resistance from the concrete dug-outs of Veldhoek but this also eventually fell. The final few hundred yards to the final objective line was difficult and costly for the 23rd Division. A dozen more pillboxes in the Wilhelm Line caused heavy casualties to the 69th brigade in particular. The final objective was, however, successfully taken and held with their left flank in touch with Australian troops. The Division did face two counter attacks later in the day, first from the Reutelbeek at 2:45 p.m. and the other at 3p.m. from the railway cutting north of Geluveld, allied artillery fire dispersed both.
Private Denby is recorded as Killed in Action on 20 September 1917, aged 21. Following the attack on Veldhoek his remains were either never found or could not be positively identified prior to official burial. As a result he is commemorated on Panel 83 of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
William Denby of Kayleigh, West Yorkshire was 18 years old at the outbreak of the First World War and the recorded date of his First Entry into the Theatre of War is 26th August 1915.
On the morning of 20th September 1917 the 23rd Division attacked with two brigades; the 68th and 69th. The 69th brigade attacked with 11th West Yorkshire regiment, 9th Yorkshire Regiment and 10th Duke of Wellington's. “B” and “D” Companies of the 10th Duke of Wellington's took Northampton Farm with ease, however behind it was a string of 12 pillboxes which caused many casualties. These were eventually taken and cleared.
“A” and “C” companies met with resistance from the concrete dug-outs of Veldhoek but this also eventually fell. The final few hundred yards to the final objective line was difficult and costly for the 23rd Division. A dozen more pillboxes in the Wilhelm Line caused heavy casualties to the 69th brigade in particular. The final objective was, however, successfully taken and held with their left flank in touch with Australian troops. The Division did face two counter attacks later in the day, first from the Reutelbeek at 2:45 p.m. and the other at 3p.m. from the railway cutting north of Geluveld, allied artillery fire dispersed both.
Private Denby is recorded as Killed in Action on 20 September 1917, aged 21. Following the attack on Veldhoek his remains were either never found or could not be positively identified prior to official burial. As a result he is commemorated on Panel 83 of the Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
Sources 2
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10 Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/2184/1). https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14303 Further reference |
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McCarthy C., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Uniform, 2018), pg. 79-80. Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1629785 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=32ba8856-fe95-4dcf-8e60-1a261496f2f0 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5117833 |