Urmston WW1 

William Royle Shawcross

Rank:PrivateNumber:41992*
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:08th Bn
Name of Rgt or Ship:Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own (Yorkshire Rgt)
Died:14/04/1917Age:19
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:BelgiumGrave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ypres
Town Memorial:Davyhulme
Extra Information:
Born during the December quarter 1897 in the Barton upon Irwell R.D. - ref:
8c/730, the youngest son of William & Grace Shawcross (nee doddemeade).

1901 Census - 22 Cross Street, Urmston.    Son - aged: 3 - born: Urmston.  
 Head of household - William Shawcross - Married - aged: 30 - occ: Manager
of Cotton Mill - born: Urmston.   Also - Grace Shawcross - Wife - aged: 30
- born: Derbyshire.   Plus 1 elder brother and a visitor.

1911 Census - "Acresfield", Moorside Road, Urmston.   Son - aged: 13 -
Scholar - born: Urmston.    Head of household - William Shawcross - Married
- aged: 40 - occ: Lamp Wick Manufacturer - born: Urmston.   Also - Grace
Shawcross - Wife - aged: 40 - born: Great Longstone, Derbyshire.   Plus 1
elder brother - Harry Doddemeade Shawcross.

The 8th Battalion Yorkshire Rgt (Green Howards) was formed at Richmond on
the 22nd September 1914 - part of K3 and was attached to the 69th Brigade,
23rd Division.   They moved to Frensham and in February 1915 travelled to
Folkestone and Maidstone, Kent.  The Battalion landed at Boulogne on the
26th August 1915.

William was one of only two members of the 8th Battalion to be killed
during April 1917 - "Trench Wastage" perhaps - sniper or random shell?

Formerly 161691 R.F.A.

Commemorated on the private family gravestone in Urmston Cem.    M.I. -
"Duty nobly done".

Flanders M.I. - "Duty nobly and fearlessly done".

Memorials found on:
St. Mary's (Davyhulme)
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