Pte
William Futter

Informatie over geboorte

Geboortejaar:
1890
Geboorteplaats:
Frithville, Lincolnshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk

Algemene Informatie

Beroep:
Landarbeider/ Melkboer

Informatie legerdienst

Land:
Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Strijdmacht:
British Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Service nummer:
22683
Dienstneming datum:
10/12/1915
Dienstneming plaats:
Caistor, Lincolnshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk
Eenheden:
 —  Lincolnshire Regiment, 2nd Bn.  (Laatst gekende eenheid)

Informatie over overlijden

Datum van overlijden:
31/07/1917
Plaats van overlijden:
Westhoek, Zonnebeke, Belgiƫ
Doodsoorzaak:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Leeftijd:
27

Gedenkplaats

Onderscheidingen en medailles 2

British War Medal
Medaille — 14/08/1920
Victory Medal
Medaille — 14/08/1920

Points of interest 3

#1 Geboorteplaats
#2 Dienstneming plaats
#3 Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering)

Mijn verhaal

William Futter was a twenty-seven-year-old Agricultural Labourer and Milkman from Moortown, Lincolnshire, who fell during the Battle of Passchendaele. The young man enlisted late 1915 and served as a Private in the 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, part of the 25th Brigade, of the 8th Division.

On the 31st of July 1917 the 8th Division participated in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, the first phase of the Battle of Passchendaele. It attacked at 3.50 a.m. with two Brigades, the 23rd and the 24th Brigades; and the 25th brigade in support. The 25th Brigade had to capture the last objective and was to pass through the 23rd and 24th Brigades on the Westhoek Ridge. Its objective, the Green Line, was a line running from the west of Zonnebeke village to the western Edge of Polygon Wood. The 25th Brigade attacked with three Battalions in the line. The 2nd Lincolnshires on the right, 1st Royal Irish Rifles in the center, and the 2nd Rifle Brigade on the left.

At 6.50 a.m. it was reported that the 23rd and 24th brigades had reached their objectives, and the 2nd Lincolnshires formed up and made their way up to the frontline then running at Jabber Trench. By 9 a.m. the Battalion had reached the Westhoek Ridge. It soon became clear that the second objective, the Black Line, had not been taken, but the attack went through accordingly. The barrage had failed to silence all the German machine-guns and casualties kept stacking up in the first minutes of the attack. On the right the advance of the 30th Division had been checked, which exposed the right flank of the 25th Brigade. Consequently the advancing troops met heavy machine-gun fire from the exposed right flank coming from Glencorse Wood. Attempts to rush the German machine gun positions proved fruitless and the men were ordered to fall back to the Black Line on the Westhoek Ridge. The 2nd Lincolnshires consolidated a line in front of Jabber Trench.

Several local German counter attacks were fend off before midday. Around 3 p.m. the Germans launched a huge counterattack. The Lincolnshire and Irish Rifles bared the brunt of it and fighting erupted along their line. Several sections fell back, but the men were rallied and the Germans were eventually driven back out of the line.

Private William Futter was killed on 31 July 1917 during the attack on the Westhoek Ridge. William has no known grave and is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Bestanden 1

Bronnen 6

"Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C., London, Uniform, 2018, pg. 26-27.
Gebruikte bronnen
"The history of the Lincolnshire Regiment : 1914-1918", Simpson C.R. (ed.), London: The Medici Society, 1931, pg. 253-256.
Gebruikte bronnen
Ancestry
https://www.ancestry.com/
Verdere verwijzing
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/930275/futter,-william/
Gebruikte bronnen
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Gebruikte bronnen
War Diary Lincolnshire Regiment, 2nd Bn.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Verdere verwijzing