William Herbert Sharman

A Private with 2nd Bn., William died on 2nd of March 1916 at the age of 20. 

William was born at Mutford on 24 September 1895, a son of Arthur and Alice Sharman. He was baptised at Saint Andrew's Church, Mutford, on 3 November 1895. In 1901 his family lived at Hulver Road, Mutford, and this was still the family address in 1911. The 1911 Census shows William working as a cow boy. 

William volunteered to join the Army and he enlisted in the Suffolk Regiment. On 26 January 1915 he arrived in France to serve with the 2nd Battalion. William was wounded, probably at Ypres in April 1915, and his name appears in the official casualty list dated 10 May 1915.

On 2 March 1916 the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment were involved in an attack at The Bluff, near St. Eloi, south-east of Ypres. This attack was judged to be very successful and and of the enemy tranches were taken and three enemy machine guns captures and 49 prisoners taken. However, the 2nd Battalion suffered loses, including William.  

William's father was killed in 1914 in the loss of the drifter Lindsell. His brother Cecil died in 1917 while serving on the trawler Elise.