William Ormerod

Private 25496
9th Bn, Lancashire Fusiliers

William Ormerod is buried in Gwalia Cemetery (Grave Ref. II. B. 1.), Belgium, having been killed on 4 September 1917.

In Plot I, Row H, of Gwalia Cemetery are buried 14 men of the 9th Lancashire Fusiliers, who were also killed in the early morning of 4 September 1917, in a German air raid over "Dirty Bucket Camp". This camp got its name from a farm at the location.

Gwalia Cemetery was used by infantry units, artillery and field ambulances from July 1917 until September 1918, and lay among the camps in flat, wet country.

William served with 9th (Service) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, which was formed at Bury, 31 August 1914, and attached to 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division.

William was aged 26 at the time of his death, and is noted on the Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour Register as the son of Mrs Jane Ormerod, of 19 Fletcher St, Bury, Lancashire.

He is believed to be William Ormerod, born abt 1892 in Bury, who would appear to have been living with his mother, Jane, and sisters, Sarah and Elizabeth, at 99 George St, Bury, at the time of the 1901 Census.

The Soldiers Died in the Great War Database records that William was born in Bury, where he also enlisted in the Army. He died of wounds on 4 September 1917.

William's grave in Gwalia Cemetery