BOND, William M.M.
No. 43392, Private, William Henry BOND :Military Medal
Aged 25
13th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
formerly 8253, 5th Reserve battalion D.L.I.
formerly No. 4408, 6th Battalion
Killed in Action on Thursday 20th September, 1917
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Born in Woodditton in Q2-1892 [Newmarket 3b:521], 2nd of 5 sons (with 6 sisters) of Alfred and Ann BOND (née PLEDGER) of Ditton Green, Woodditton. 1901 census...at 1 Ivy Cottages were William [9]; his father Alfred [39], agricultural labourer, born Ditton Green; his mother Ann [38], born Kirtling; his brother Walter [19]; sister Lillie [17]; sister Julia [13]; sister Alice[11]; brother John [7]; sister Lizzie [5]; sister Amelia [3], all born in Woodditton. and sister Violet [1], born Exning. 1911 census...at 2 Morley Cottages, Laceys Lane, Exning were William, single, a farm labourer; his parents, brother John; sister Violet and brother Ernest [9], born Exning and brother Harry [2], born Exning. 2 of his siblings had died (Amelia in 1907) He married Esther FOSTER in Q2-1916 in Aukland, Durham.(she later married Richard RODDAM in 1920 in Aukland). Esther was at 6 Dawson St, Crook, Durham when completing next of kin paperwork By September 1919 his parents were at Bury Road, Kentford, brother Walter was at Beech Farm, Butler Crumbe, Stamford, John was in Exning and Ernest with his parents in Kentford. Sister Lilian had married George Wiseman and was at 2 Belgrade Villas, Laceys Lane, Exning. His widow seemingly unaware of the fate or whereabouts of the rest of his siblings On the pension card Esther was at 43 Mount Pleasant, Stanley, Crook, Co.Durham. |
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William attested in Crook, Co Durham on 23rd December 1915 for the 6th Battalion and was mobilised on 4th March 1916. He gave his address as 43 Mount Pleasant, Stanley Brook, single, a contractor, aged 23 years 10 months. He was 5 feet 4.5 inches tall, weighed 140 lbs and chest 34" to 37".A Wesleyan, his next of kin was his father Alfred Bond of Laceys Lane, Exning He married Esther Foster in Hanley, Co.Durham on 1st April 1916 Posted to the 5th Reserve battalion as No 8253, he was then posted to the B.E.F. on 25th October 1916 as No 43392, 13th Battalion D.L.I. and joined the battalion in the field on 13th November 1916. Esther received his Military Medal by post and acknowledge receipt on 1st December 1918. Se was awarded a pension of 13/9 (70p) per week from 24th June 1918. The citation for his Military Medal has not so far been found. The day he was killed his battalion was involved in an attack at the Menin Road Ridge, near Zillebeke, the start of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. The Durham Light Infantry had 89 killed on the Salient this day, 68 having no known grave. William's 13th Battalion accounted for 58 of these losses, only 7 have identified graves. |
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