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Pte. William Doy
British Army 8th Btn. Norfolk Regiment
from:Great Ryburgh, Norfolk
(d.22nd October 1917)
William Doy was born on 24th August 1894 in Colkirk. His father's family came from Brisley, Norfolk and his mother's family came from Gt. Ryburgh, Norfolk. William's mother was Harriet Doy nee Ainger and his father was Arthur Doy. He was the couple's only son, he had five sisters: Bertha born 1889, Ruth born 1890, Thurza born 1891, Emma Laura born 1892, and Bessie born 1897. William's mother died in childbirth in 1901 when he was only 6 years old. His father was unable to care for his children and they all went to live with different relatives. William lived with paternal aunt and uncle, Samuel and Georgina Nelson at 48, Fakenham Road Gt. Ryburgh. Also living in the Nelson household were the couple's sons, one of their sons, Ernest Nelson also joined up and was killed in WW1. William attended Gt. Ryburgh School. He left school and worked on a local farm until he enlisted 3rd September 1914. William enlisted only a month after war was declared and initially for one year.
He joined the 8th (Service) Battalion, Norfolk Regiment in September 1914 . The Norfolk Regiment was raised at Norwich in September 1914 as part of Kitchener's Second New Army and joined 53rd Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. In October 1914 the Battalion moved to Colchester and then moved to Salisbury Plain in May 1915. On 25th July 1915 the Battalion mobilised for war and landed at Boulogne.
Since 14th October 1914 French and English troops had occupied the area around Ypres. The British and French put up a defence to block the route for the German Army through Ypres to the ports on the French and Belgian coast. The Allies and the British Army remained in Ypres for four years from October 1914 to the end of the war in November 1918. Ypres never fell into German occupation during the war.
In 1916 William saw action with The Norfolk Regiment on The Somme in The Battle of Albert,capturing their objectives near Montauban, The Battle of Bazentin Ridge,including the capture of Trones Wood, The Battle of Delville Wood, The Battle of Thiepval Ridge, The Battle of the Ancre Heights, playing a part in the capture of the Schwaben Redoubt and Regina Trench, and the The Battle of the Ancre. In 1917 the Regiment took part in the Operations on the Ancre including Miraumont and the capture of Irles, they fought during the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, The Third Battle of the Scarpe, Then moving to Flanders.
On 22nd of October 1917 after serving from July 1915 on the front line William was killed in action, his body is buried in Leper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
