Current Information:

Born-Suffolk

Enlisted-Barking

On 30th December, 1914, the 2nd Wiltshire battalion of 21 Brigade, 7th Division moved into trenches at Fleurbaix, to the south-west of Armentières, where they remained until relieved on 2nd January, 1915. William Dyer was killed on 1st January, 1915,  but the battalion diary has no information of casualties on that day. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.