SANSOM William Charles


No.33293, Private, William Charles SANSOM
Aged 21


18th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
attached to the 18th Battalion, Manchester Regiment
Killed in Action on 30th July 1918


William Charles Sansom was born Wetherden(1st qtr 1895 Stow 4a:846) son of George and Alice SANSOM (née SCROBY)


1901 census...not found in this census...there is at Uppertown, Wetherden a family, CURTIS, with father George born Tostock, mother Alice, George [14] and Albert James [13], Florence [10], Ella [8], William [6],Hilda [4] and Ada Maria [2]. Ada died 1902 as SANSOM and in 1903 another Ada Maria was born -SANSOM-SCROBY). All new siblings born in Wetherden. All were registered as SANSOM with mother's maiden names SCROBY. There is no trace of any reason for a name change, they are all still in Uppertown in 1911 as CURTIS. They all appear to use the SANSOM name on official document such as marriage or death but not the census ?

1911 census...Aged 16, cow man, he was at Upper Town Wetherden with his parents; brother Albert (horseman); sisters Ella, Hilda, Rose (10) and Ada Maria [8] The family name was CURTIS. .

From William's pension card is can be seen that the parents George and Alice had moved to Crows Wood Lodge, Little Saxham from New Cottage, Horringer Hall. and were SANSOM

His brother George SANSOM was killed in 1915 see here
and his brother in law Frederick FISHER, died at home of his wounds in 1919 see here


The 18th Manchester war diary is very extensive for 29/31 July 1916 The battalion was in action around TRONES WOOD and BERNAFAY WOOD. Enemy machine guns from GUILLEMONT STATION caused very heavy casualties and eventually halted the advance
They had 113 killed on 30th, 91 of them have no known grave.



His brother in law's grave in Little Saxham - photo Adrian Pye


William Sansom is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France pier/face 3C/3D
and his brother in law's headstone in Little Saxham Churchyard

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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