Willie Ormerod

Private 6031
5th Bn, York and Lancaster Regiment

Willie was the son of Sarah Ormerod, of 106 Burnley Road, Todmorden, and John Marshall.

At the time of the 1901 Census William was living at 106 Burnley Road, Todmorden, with his widowed mother, and siblings. Details of the census entry are as follows.

Willie died on 30 September 1916, aged 26 years, in Norfolk War Hospital, and is buried in Cross Stone Cemetery, Todmorden, Yorkshire (Grave Ref. Old Part. Ee. 12).

He enlisted in the Army in February 1916 in Halifax - initially serving as Private 5449 with the 4th Bn, West Riding Regiment.

He served on the Home Front from 4 April 1916 until 10 August 1916, and then in France from 11 August 1916.

Willie was transferred to C Company of the 1/5th Bn, York and Lancaster Regiment from 3 September 1916, joining them in the field on 9 September 1916, before being wounded in action on 20 September 1916. At this time it would appear that the Battalion were in the line at North Bluff, just south of Thiepval Wood.

He was taken to 3 Casualty Clearing Station, then 13 General Hospital, before being taken on 25 September 1916 from Boulogne back to England, where he died in Norfolk War Hospital at 7.00 p.m. on 30 September 1916.

He is believed to be the William Ormerod commemorated on the war memorial in Christ Church, Burnley Road, Todmorden.