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Pte. William George Fall
British Army 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
from:Birmingham
(d.3rd May 1917)
My Great Uncle Bill Fall was born at home in a 3 roomed back to back terrace in Cardigan Street, Birmingham on 8th December 1885. The first son (4th child) of my great grandparents Clara Annie Lee and William Fall. Of the 16 children, 4 died before the age of one, the last girl being suffocated by her mother whilst in bed at night, subsequently confirmed as accidental by an inquest. By 1911 the family had moved to a rented 5-roomed house with shop in Market Street, Birmingham. Whilst nominated the shopkeeper in local trade directories, William remained in the gun trade and Clara was actually running the shop. With 10 children at home, the youngest were probably still topping and tailing in bed. William at 15 was working as a plumber, the oldest 3 girls were also working.
At age 18, Bill enlisted with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and served from 8th of November 1914 in France (he was awarded the clasp with his 1914 Star). He joined the battalion at Houplines (N.E. of Lille) where the Royal Warwickshire's were midst battle in heavy rain and snow. On 13th of November 1914 the regimental war diary entry states "Discomfort undescribable."
He served through 1915/16 crossing France and Belgium as did so many, suffering gas attacks from both the Germans and our own (as the wind changed). The battalion endured days and nights of heavy rain, snow and much rejoiced fine days. Training days away from the trenches must have been some relief.
April and May 1917 saw thick snow arrive and with it the Royal Warks were in the thick of it alongside the Royal Irish Fusiliers and Seaforth Highlanders. Casualty numbers increased as the battle around Fampoux persisted. A brief respite on 23rd of April was followed by an intercompany football match, but all too soon they were back in the trenches around Arras.
The major offensive to capture the Chemical Works in Rouex commenced on 1st May 1917. The battle report of 2nd of May shows "Heavy barrage along Crump and River Scarpe. All going well, but afraid casualties heavy."
William died on the 3rd of May 1917 in action, aged 21, near Fampoux. He is buried in the small Crump Trench Cemetery next to the River Scarpe. This is down a long, narrow track, very isolated and in a heavily wooded area.
The photo of Uncle Bill with his parents has recently come into my possession. It solves the mystery of why on the Roll of Honour in Birmingham he is listed L/Cpl, yet he is Pte on his medal cards and soldiers effects entry. Presumably he was acting. The Burial Return for the original exhumation of the battlefield trench grave of 8 soldiers shows he was identified by the "L/Cpl stripe on tunic" prior to being buried in the CWGC grave.
He is remembered by many of his sibling's families, though I believe I'm the only one of my generation to visit his grave.
