Military History

William is listed as being killed in action on 18 Sep 1918. In the absence of the war diary the following extract is taken from the History of 10th & 12th Battalions Hampshire Regiment by W.S. Cowland and is in large part the diary kept by Major W.S. Cowland DSO. Naval & Military Press

18 Sept. "Attack on White Scar Hill in cnojunction with main attack on P Ridge. The battalion (that part which was in it) distinguished itself yesterday. We had to demonstrate against, attack, and hold a hill for a stated period, a small part of larger operations. We did it twice and got blown off twice by, it seemed, every gun in Macedonia. I ran the second half of the operations. We drove off a Bulgar counter-attack and all wires being cut by shell-fire eventually a runner got through to me that the General ordered us to withdraw as we had done all that was wanted.

I think we got all the wounded away ; the company killed a good few Bulgars, including an Officer ; I have got some wonderful souvenirs which I found in his dug-out. Last night came through congratulations from the Divisional Commander. Everything is going in excellently. A Company was raided last night, but the Bulgar was driven off and did not get into our trenches ; that was one excitement during the night ; and shortly after that we were shelled with gas-shells, our first experience, but no damage done".