Believed to be the son of Benjamin and Betsy Pawson, of North Street, Wetherby.
William was born at Wetherby in 1893 however Soldiers Died In The Great
War states Spofforth, to parents Benjamin, occupation, Plate Layer employed by the North Eastern Railway Company, and
Betsy Pawson.
The 1911 Census records that
William is residing with his parents, occupation being recorded as that of a Gardener, employed by a Gentleman. No precise
information can be found to corroborate the information included in SDGW that states place of birth as Spofforth.
Recruitment &
Attestation
William
we can be sure for certain, attested for service at Wetherby Town Hall on or about the 31st August 1914. The terms of his
enlistment were that of a Short Service obligation, i.e., three years with the Colours however it was stated that if the War
was to last longer than three years, the recruit would be retained until the cessation of hostilities.
As the men waited to enlist, Army protocol dictated that had the prospective
recruit received Notice and understood its meaning and who gave the Notice to them. On confirmation by the potential recruit,
Army Form B. 2065 was at first signed by Rowland Meyrick, the issuer of the Notice before recruitment could commence. The
latter had proved to be very brisk, principally due to the efforts of a number of individuals, but it was Mr. Rowland Meyrick
of Hall Orchards, a Land Agent for the Montague estates that was the major protagonist encouraging many a young Wetherby man
to "take the King's shilling."
A
newspaper article dated September 1914 provides an insight as to his activities as an Unpaid Recruitment Officer;
"Day and night he worked with the greatest enthusiasm and wherever
young men were, in the cottage, in the harvest field and street, there he was to be found, exercising his persuasive powers
and the young men answered nobly to his call.
Some
men at first however, had their reservations on joining the Colours;
One
young fellow, anxious to enlist, was troubled about throwing up his work and he went to Mr. Meyrick. Would he guarantee him
work when he returned home? The answer was thoroughly satisfactory, and the young fellow is probably now clad in khaki. That
is the way to get recruits."
Concerns
prior to enlistment were also raised for the soldiers dependants, therefore, Wetherby Steeplechase Committee made the following
offer to both stimulate and encourage recruitment. A further newspaper article also dated September 1914 declared;
"The Wetherby Steeplechase Committee have announced that they will
give 1 shilling a week each to the wives of men who have joined the Colours, and any others volunteering in the town, in order
to augment the Army allowance while they are on service."
Agreeing that he now understood the terms of his engagement, William now declared that all
his answers to questions declared on the Army Form were true and that he was willing to fulfill the engagements made. On signing
the document, this was witnessed by John McEvitt, a former soldier who had served with the 1st battalion, Connaught Rangers
and a veteran of the Boer War. Former Colour Sergeant McEvitt in civilian life was the Caretaker of the Conservative Club
located in the Market Place, who, although recorded in the 1911 Census as an Army Pensioner, fulfilled the roll of Acting
Recruitment Sergeant.
A preliminary medical
examination was now conducted by Lieutenant Harry Winstanley Shadwell of the Royal Army Medical Corps to determine vital statistics;
height, weight expansion of the chest etc. Deemed 'fit' as the vast majority of men were at this early stage of enlistment,
the final signature that would approve the man for military service was that of the Approving Officer, 14th Recruiting Area,
Colonel Harold P. Ditmas, late Durham Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia).
That
final signature would witness over forty-five recruits from the locality joining the ranks of the fledgeling 9th (Service)
Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, the first Service battalion of the Regiment to be raised as a response to the outbreak
of the Great War.
In the first week of September,
the men prior to leaving for the Regimental Depot located at York, were entertained to a dinner by the townsfolk of Wetherby.
After the event and bidding their farewells, the men of 'Kitchener's Army' were conveyed to York in a fleet of
motor-cars amidst what was described as "much scenes of jubilation and enthusiasm."
Of the men, many would never return.
Formation Of The Battalion
The 9th (Service) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment was formed at York on
the 25th August 1914 and designated a K 1 Battalion as formed under Lord Kitchener's first 'Call to Arms,'
an appeal for 100,000 men to join the Army for 3 years or for the duration of the War between the ages of 19 and 30 years.
The Battalion were contained in the 11th (Northern) Division, a New Army Division which was formed under Army Order No. 324
published on the 21st August 1914.
This order
approved of the addition to the Army of six divisions; the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.
The 9th (Service) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, Officer Commanding,
Lieutenant-Colonel George Frend (attached from the 3rd Battalion, West Yorkshire's), were to form part of the 32nd Infantry
Brigade that also comprised of the following units;
6th
(Service) Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)
6th
(Service) Battalion, Yorks & Lancs Regiment
8th
(Service) Battalion, West Riding Regiment (Duke of Wellington's)
Brigade Commander Brigadier-General Henry Haggard
Divisional Commander Major-General Frederick Hammersley C.B.
Training
Basic training ensued for the recruits from Wetherby at the Regimental Depot
where they soon became accustomed to the vagaries of life in the British Army. Possibly the first 'blow' to patriotic
'fervour' was the issuing of a Serial Number to each man, an individual in civilian life but now a number throughout
his service in the Army. It is of interest to note that the numbers issued to the recruits from Wetherby follow no alphabetical
sequence as is sometimes the case. An analysis therefore conducted of this specific batch of numbers issued reveals that proceeding
William the number 11888 was allocated to one Arthur Kinghorn. Arthur, a Labourer and residing in premises at Victoria Street,
was a time expired soldier who had served with the 5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, the forerunner of the 1/5th Battalion.
He attested for service at Wetherby Town Hall like so many young men on the 31st August 1914 aged 34 years but was to be discharged
in October of the same year for reasons which will be examined later during the course of this commemoration. The number issued
following on from William, 11890, was allocated to Laurence Nightingale, a native of Pannal, near Harrogate. Employed by George
Gunter of Wetherby as a Jockey, 'Laurie' was to be wounded on the Peninsula but would survive the War.
York at this juncture with the Depot processing more men that had answered
the 'Call to Arms' was now fit to bursting point with men. Therefore a move to larger training facilities located
at Belton Park near Grantham, Lincolnshire, was initiated in September by the 9th West Yorkshire's where they were joined
by the remainder of the Brigade and Division.
Following
this movement, a second medical examination more thorough than that which had taken place on Attestation was conducted in
mid October. Many men were discharged either having being to be found medically unfit with conditions ranging from chronic
bronchitis to a hernia, or, just a lack of general ability. The latter men in Army 'parlance' were "Discharged
not being likely to become an efficient soldier," their departure being confirmed by the Adjutant, Captain Alexander
Geary-Smith. An analysis of Army Pension Records reveal that of the men who enlisted at Wetherby Town Hall in August, 6 were
medically discharged who had a direct link to the town in addition to one man from Kirk Deighton. Some of these discharged
men would eventually serve in some military capacity as the War progressed.
The winter of 1914 and the spring of 1915 were most notably wet resulting
in the camp at Belton turning into a veritable quagmire. By the end of February, all ranks had been issued 1914 Pattern equipment,
made under contract in the United States and despite the constraints of the weather the training programme proceeded apace.
By late March orders had been issued warning
of an impending move away from Lincolnshire. On the 5th April 1915, the 9th West Yorkshire's in Brigade and Division were
ordered to entrain at Rugby, the destination being Witley Camp near Godalming, Surrey. Departing Belton Park on this date,
the Brigade in Division proceeded by route of march via Scalford, Thrussington and Whetstone reaching Rugby on the 8th. Here
the 32nd Infantry Brigade entrained during the following day after an eventful march. An account of this may be found in the
Green Howards In The Great War by H.C. Wylly. 'The Optimist' as the recorder of these events is
referred to writes;
"Our
march on Wednesday took us through Leicester where the Division was accorded a really wonderful reception; all work was suspended
and the streets were lined by an enthusiastic and cheering multitude who showered all kinds of gifts on the troops."
Settling into their
new surroundings 'The Optimist' remarked that the change of weather and that of the scenery was most welcome.
He also noted that the extensive heathland and commons so characteristic of the area proved more conducive for military manoeuvres
as the men were about to experience.
The camp
at Witley consisted at this stage of the War primarily of tented accommodation with a few huts present but the camp would
rapidly expand and become more permanent as the conflict progressed.
On
the 1st May 1915, the 11th (Northern) Division played host to two most distinguished visitors, namely His Majesty the King
who was also accompanied by Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War. After inspecting the men, the following Divisional
Order was issued an extract of which is quoted in Wylly's History;
"His Majesty the King has desired the G.O.C. to convey to the troops
his appreciation of the splendid appearance and steadiness of the men on parade yesterday. His Majesty also remarked on the
good condition of the horses. Finally His Majesty said to the G.O.C., "It has been a very great pleasure to me to see
such a splendid body of men, and I desire you to so inform the troops."
The month of May would also witness a change in command of the Battalion
when Colonel Frend was replaced by another officer from the ranks of the 3rd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel
John O'Brien Minogue. An experienced officer who had risen through the ranks, Minogue had served with a variety of regiments
during the course of his service career however the Colonel did possess an affiliation to the West Yorkshire Regiment dating
back to 1893.
Towards the end of June there
must have been rumours of an impending move to active service circulating as the American equipment previously issued to the
men was replaced by the British made 1908 Pattern Webbing. Suspicions were no doubt aroused further when all the men were
issued with khaki drill and helmets of the 'Foreign Service' variety, the latter also referred to as the 'Pagri.'
William and the men of the West Yorkshire's
were soon to have their suspicions confirmed when orders were issued to the 32nd Infantry Brigade at 3 p.m. on the afternoon
of the 31st June 1915 to prepare for entrainment the following day. The destination, as yet unknown to the men, was to be
the Dardanelles.
For a comprehensive account
of the actions of the 9th (Service) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment during the Dardanelles Campaign, the reader may wish
to follow this link:
