Current Information:

Age-39

14, Kitson Road, Camberwell

On 8th April, 1915, the 1st Royal Scots battalion of 81 Brigade, 27th Division left their billets in Poperinghe and moved into trenches at Ypres, astride the Menin Road where they remained until 12th April when they withdrew to support positions in Sanctuary Wood. William Bricknell was killed on 9th April but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. 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.