William Norman Ormerod

Private 42426
23rd (Tyneside Scottish) Bn, Northumberland Fusiliers

The Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour Register records that William was the husband of Gertrude Binns (formerly Ormerod), of 14 Fisher Street, Old Trafford, Manchester. He was born in Halifax, Yorkshire.

William died on 5 August 1918 and is buried in Leuze Communal Cemetery (Grave Ref. II. C. 3).

Leuze is situated midway between Mons and Tournai. The village was in German hands from August 1914, until it was entered by Commonwealth forces on 10 November 1918. The communal cemetery was used by German medical units prior to this.

At the time of William's death the 23rd (Service) (4th Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, formed part of 197th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division.

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database simply records that William died on 5 August 1918 - which would tend to suggest that he was not killed in action, and did not die as a result of wounds.

It has now been established that William was a Prisoner of War, and died at St Foranyikans War Hospital, Leuze, Belgium on 5 August 1918.

The Database also notes that William enlisted in the Army in Halifax.

Further information about William can be found at Malcolm Bull's Calderdale Companion, at http://www.calderdalecompanion.co.uk/mmo90.html#5.