- 1918
-
Name |
Walter Gordon Douglas-Willan |
Gender |
Male |
Death |
24 Mar 1918 |
St Quentin, France |
Burial |
no known grave, and is commemorated on the Pozi?res Memorial, France |
Person ID |
I10969 |
My Genealogy |
Last Modified |
17 Nov 2020 |
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Notes |
- Walter was the son of John Gordon Douglas-Willan, and the grandson of Colonel Douglas-Willan of Haverfordwest, who had fought with Lord Chelmsford during Zulu War. He was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, but was then attached to the 22nd Battalion, which was the Pioneer Battalion to the 8th Division. The 8th Division was formed during October 1914, by the bringing together of regular army units from various points around the British Empire. The Division moved to the Western Front in November 1914, a badly-needed reinforcement to the BEF which had been all but wiped out at Ypres. They saw their first major action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and then at the Battle of Aubers. They then saw further fighting at the Action of Bois Grenier, before moving to the Somme in 1916, where they fought at the Battle of Albert. In March, 1917 they followed the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and later that year moved to Ypres, fighting at the Battle of Pilckem, and the Battle of Langemarck. In March, 1918 the Division were on the southern end of the Somme, and here met the German Offensive head on, at the Battle of St Quentin. Walter was killed here on 24 March 1918. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Pozi?res Memorial, France.
Killed in action in France 24 March 1918
Major Durham Light Infantry, 4
th
Battalion attached to 22
nd
Battalion
The son of John Gordon Douglas- Willan, and grandson of Col. Douglas-Willan of Haverfordwest
Remembered at POZIERES MEMORIAL
The Douglas- Willan family was closely linked to St Mary's Church. One of the Kempe stained glass windows on the south side of the nave has the inscription;
To the glory of God and in loving memory of William Moffat Douglas- Willan (Royal Horse Artillery) of Twyford Abbey, Middlesex, his daughter dedicates this window. A.D. MCMXII
The Warren book on St. Mary's informs that the Colonel was buried in St Mary's cemetery.
The small window in the porch depicting St Matthew has the inscription;
In loving memory of Frederick James Douglas Willan his sister dedicates this window AD 1916.
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