Trafford

Born William Dudley during the September quarter 1895 in the Barton upon
Irwell R.D. - ref: 8c/738, the eldest son of William & Louisa Dudley (nee
Jepson also Hodcroft).   This was his mother's second marriage, her first
was to Thomas Hodcroft.

1901 Census - 7 Dudley Road, Sale.   Son (Listed as Willie Dudley) - aged:
6 - born: Stretford.   Head of household - William Dudley - Married - aged:
40 - occ: Jobbing Gardener - born: Sale.   Also Luie Dudley - Wife - aged:
46 - born: Sale.   Plus 1 younger sister and 2 Hodcroft half-siblings.

1911 Census - 19 Roebuck Lane, Sale.    Son (Listed as Willie Dudley) -
aged: 15 - occ: Capstan Hand - born: Stretford.  Head of household -
William Dudley - Married - aged: 29 - occ: Gardener (not domestic) - born:
Sale.   Also Luie Dudley - Wife - aged: 32 - born: Sale.   Plus 2 younger
sisters and 2 Hodcroft half-siblings.

Attended Sale Township School and the Roebuck Lane Mission.   He was a
member of the Boy Scouts.

Employed at the Electric Company, Broadheath.

Enlisted in August 1914 and drafted to the front in November 1915.  The
20th Battalion (5th Manchester Pals), Manchester Regiment was formed at
Manchester on the 8th November 1914 and moved to Morecambe in April 1915. 
They next moved to Grantham, then to Larkhill in September 1915.   They
landed at Boulogne on the 8th November 1915 and in December 1915 were
placed in the 22nd Brigade, 7th Division.

On the Somme, they attacked on the right of Fricourt on the 1st July 1916,
sustaining high casualties during their assault on the Sunken Road Trench. 
The Battalion was transferred out of the Somme battlefields on the 18th
September 1916, entraining at Pont-Remy for Meteren, Northern France close
to the Belgian border.   Killed in small scale fighting.

Death reported in the 07/09/1917 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1918.