Current Information:

Age-26

Military Medal

122, Cassland Road, South Hackney

39, Wyatt Road, Highbury

SDGW-YEOWILL

Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux-St Marc, France

On the night of 24th-25th May, 1917, 9th King’s Royal Rifle Corps of 42 Brigade, 14th Division, moved up from Neuville Vitasse to the front line trenches in front of Wancourt. At 2.20am on 27th May the enemy began a 40 minute artillery bombardment of the trenches held by 9th King’s Royal Rifle Corps which was followed by a raid. Over 40 Germans made their way up the Cojeul valley. Most of them were dispersed while still in no-man’s-land but about 10 of the enemy got through the lines where the trenches did not extend as far as the banks of the Cojeul stream. Making their way further back they attacked dug-outs around the Battalion HQ, the Sunken Road and the Railway, before falling back to their own lines taking at least one prisoner from 9th King’s Royal Rifle Corps with them. The rest of the day passed peacefully enough but late that evening there was another heavy artillery bombardment of the right hand trenches which again was followed by a raid. This time the raiders were unable to penetrate the British line. William Yeowell died of wounds on 28th May and it is likely that he was wounded on 27th May.