Willie Ormerod

Gunner 116740
"C" Bty, 242nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

Willie was the son of Willie and Sarah Ormerod, of 182 Stanley Street, Atherton, Manchester.

At the time of the 1901 and 1911 Censuses he was living at 82 Bag Lane, Atherton, with his widowed mother, Sarah, and siblings. Details of the 1901 Census entry are as follows.

Willie died on 29 September 1917, and is buried in Spoilbank Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium (Grave Ref. II. A. 2).

Spoilbank Cemetery is located 4.5 km south east of Ypres town centre.

242nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, was a part of 48th (South Midland) Division, until 20 January 1917, when it transferred as an Army Brigade. It was made up of batteries from Birmingham, and was redesignated as III South Midland Brigade from May 1916.

Willie is remembered on the gravestone of his parents, William and Sarah, in Atherton Cemetery. The epitaph on their gravestone reads:

"In loving memory of / William Ormerod / who died May 15th 1896 / aged 49 years. / Also John Edward Ormerod / son of the above / who died March 6th 1908 / aged 20 years. / Gone but not forgotten / Also Willie Ormerod / who was killed in action / Sep 28th 1917 aged 22 years / and is buried in Spoilbank Cemetery, / Zillebeke, Ypres. / He gave his life for his country. / Also Ernest Ormerod / who died May 16th 1920, / aged 27 years. / Also Sarah Ormerod / wife of the above / William Ormerod / who died Feb 24th 1926 / aged 69 years. / Until the day breaks."

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database records that Willie Ormerod died of wounds on 29 September 1917. The Database also notes that he was born in Atherton, and that he enlisted in the Army in Manchester.

	Willie Ormerod's grave in Spoilbank Cemetery
	The gravestone of Willie's parents, William and Sarah, in Atherton Cemetery (Grave Ref. NG 769)
	Willie's name commemorated on Atherton Cenotaph