236674 Pte. William Francis Hazell British Army 11th Btn. Nottingham & Derbyshire Regiment from:5 Castle Cottages, Child's Hill, Cricklewood, London (d.7th Jun 1917) Bill Hazell was my great uncle. His sister Florence Hazell was my paternal grandmother. He was a fishshop assistant and lived in Child's Hill, north London (between West Hampstead and Golders Green).
I have been told that my grandmother was much affected by her young brother's early death at the age of 24. I have visited his memorial which is on the Menin Gate and it is a very sad and moving place. I note that his date of death coincided with the explosion of mines before the Battle of Messines and am interested in knowing if he was killed as a result of the blasts or in the fighting which took place subsequently.
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