Trafford

Born during the March quarter 1886 in the Altrincham R.D. - ref: 8a/184,
the son of Joseph & Leonora Faulkner (Nee Allen).

1891 Census - Washway Road next to Sinderland Road, Dunham Massey
(Broadheath).   Son - aged: 5 - born: Dunham Massey.   Head of household -
Joseph Faulkner - Married - aged: 34 - occ: Platelayer - born: Carrington. 
 Also Lenora Faulkner - Wife - aged: 27 - born: Dunham Massey.  Plus 3
siblings 

1901 Census - Manchester Road, Dunham Massey.   Son - aged: 15 - occ:
Carter on Farm - born: Dunham Massey.   Head of household - Joseph Faulkner
- Married - aged: 43 - occ:Foreman Platelayer on Railway - born:
Carrington.   Also Lanora Faulkner - Wife - aged: 39 - born: Dunham Massey.
 Plus 5 siblings.

1911 Census - Railway Cottages, West Timperley.   Son - aged: 25 - occ:
Labourer in Iron Foundry - born: Dunham Massey.    Head of household -
Joseph Faulkner - Married - aged: 52 - occ: Railway Platelayer - born:
Dunham.   Also Lenora Faulkner - Wife - aged: 47 - born: Dunham Massey. 
Plus 5 younger siblings.

His father - Joseph Faulkner died in 1916, aged: 49.
  
WO363 - Residing at 1 Railway Cottage, West Timperley, he enlisted at
Altrincham on the 14th March 1916.  He was aged: 30 years, 2 months and
employed as a crane driver.   He was 5 feet 7 1/2 inches in height, he
weighed 128 1/2 lb, his chest measurement 33 - 36 inches.  He was unmarried
and had no children dependents.  His mother was Leonora Faulkner and he had
three brothers and one sister, all residing in the Railway Cottage -
Joseph, 29 - Edward, 27 - John, 19 and Elizabeth, 22.

Stationed at Devonport on the 31st August 1916.  Embarked for Salonika 11th
September 1916.  Joined the 12th Battalion, Cheshire Rgt, "in the field" on
the 18th September.  Admitted to 43 General Hospital, Salonika on the 6th
January 1917 - discharged on the 1st February with "Rheum" (presumably
rheumatoid arthritis?) and sent to No. 22 - I.B.D. (Infantry Base Depot). 
Rejoined his Unit "in the field" on the 1st May 1916.  Admitted to No. 67
Field Ambulance on the 25th June 1916 and sent back to No. 5 Canadian
Hospital suffering from Trench Fever, then to No.66 General Hospital on the
27th July 1917.   Discharged to No.3 - I.B.D. on the 3rd October 1917.

Unable to read parts of his record, but he must have recovered and been
sent back to his Unit soon after the 3rd October.  Wounded on the 23rd
November 1917 and admitted to No.67 Field Ambulance suffering from a shell
wound to his right arm (a complicated fracture of his right humerous). 
Sent back to a C.C.S. (Casualty Clearing Station) the following day and
then to No.28 General Hospital on the 25th November, where he died of his
wounds on the 30th.

William's personal items were sent to Mrs. Leonora Faulkner, 1 Railway
Cottage, West Timperley, from the Records Section of the 12th Battalion,
Cheshire Regiment.  These items comprised - his Identity disc; photo
wallet; safety razor & blades.  In a leather case - photos; a metal mirror
and a woolen cap.  In a wallet - cards, letters, photos and a crucifix.  
In 1919 his British War Medal & Victory Medal were sent to Mrs. L.
Faulkner.
 
The 12th (Service) Battalion, Cheshire Rgt was formed at Chester in
September 1914 as part of K3 and attached as Army Troops to 22nd Division. 
 The Bn moved to Seaford and by December 1914 was in billets in Eastbourne.
  In February 1915 it transferred to 66th Brigade in same Division.   Moved
to Aldershot in June 1915 and on the 6th September 1915, landed at
Boulogne.  On the 27th October the Bn was moved by train to Marseilles and
embarked for Salonika on the 27th.  in November 1915 it was transferred to
Salonika.  Eight of his comrades died on the 22nd/23rd November 1917 - the
same day that he was fatally wounded.