William James Surrell

A Trooper with the Household Battalion, William died on 14th of October 1917 at the age of 28. 

William was born at Dudley, Worcestershire, a son of William James and Henrietta Surrell. In 1891 his family lived at 135 Whitehall Road, West Bromwich, Staffordshire, and, by 1901, at 70 Dock Cottages, Poplar, London. Later, and before the First World War, his family moved to King’s Lynn. Subsequently they lived at 19 Sydenham Place, Ottley Road, Bradford. 

William married Hilda Fanny Colby at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 30 June 1914. William was a railway guard living at Saint Nicholas’, Great Yarmouth.  Hilda’s family home was at 23 Saint Peter’s Road, Kirkley, and while William was away on active service Hilda moved back to live with her family. Later Hilda lived at 4 Harold Road, Lowestoft.

William was living at 75 Churchill Road, Great Yarmouth, and working as a railway guard, when he attested for the Army at Great Yarmouth on 11 December 1915. He was held on reserve until he was called up on 20 December 1916. Initially he joined the 2nd Life Guards, but was posted to the Household Battalion (Reserve), at Windsor, on 22 December 1916, with service number 2379. He was posted to the Household Battalion in France on 6 May 1917.

On 10 October 1917 the Household Battalion relieved the 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment on the right sub-sector of the 12th Brigade’s front line. Due to enemy shelling two companies had to be withdrawn to west of the Poelcappelle-Les Cinq Chemins Road. The battalion were ordered to take part in attack on 12 October and were in their assembly positions by 4 a.m. Shelling on the assembly trenches caused about 50 casualties. At 5.25 a.m. the battalion attacked with a two company front. Owing to the 18th Division being held up at Polecapelle the battalion could not advance beyond their first objective, near Requete Farm. Many of the officers became casualties. At 4p.m. the enemy launched a counter-attack, but this was repulsed. The battalion were relieved later that night. 

William was wounded on 12 October 1917 and evacuated viz No 29 Ambulance Train to the 2nd Australian General Hospital, Boulogne, where he died of his wounds. 

Between 10 and 14 October the Household Battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: four killed, nine wounded.
Other ranks: 348