William Burnell Vickers
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William Burnell Vickers was born in 1891 at Nottingham, he was the son of Charles Henry a lace manufacturer of Vickers and Hine, and Jessie Anna Vickers née Lomas and the brother of Jessie Margaret and Charles Geoffrey Vickers. His father Charles Henry was born in 1851 at Nottingham, his mother Jessie Anna Lomas was born in 1858 at Leicester, they were married in 1882 at Leicester they had 3 children, their other children, Jessie Margaret b1884 Nottingham and Charles Geoffrey born 1895 Nottingham. In 1911 the family lived at Lucknow Corner Magdala Road Nottingham Charles Henry is 60 yrs and is a lace manufacturer, he is living with his wife Jessie Anna 53 yrs and their children, Jessie Margaret 27 yrs William Burnell 20 yrs a lace salesman and Charles Geoffrey 11 yrs a scholar, also living at the address are two servants.
Second Lieutenant William Burnell Vickers enlisted and initially served with the Royal Fusiliers, he was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery on 16th March 1915. He was killed in action on 21st June 1917 he is buried at Vlamertnghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Nottingham Corporation minutes of council meeting 2 July 1917: Expression of sympathy to relatives of ... and Lieutenant WB Vickers Royal Garrison Artillery. His brother Charles Geoffrey Vickers was the recipiant of a Vicotoria Cross, the following deatils are from the webpage victoriacross online.co.uk Charles Geoffrey Vickers (1894-1982) was born in Nottingham on 13th October 1894. His father was Charles Henry Vickers, Director of Messrs Vickers & Hine, Lace Manufacturers. When he died in 1925, he left £10,771 to his son Charles. His mother was Jessie Anna nee Lomas, and they married in 1882 in Leicester. Charles had two siblings: Jessie Margaret and William Burnell. Sir Charles G Vickers VC Charles was educated at Oundle School from 1908-1912, where he played rugby and was a member of the Officer Training Corps. From January to March 1913 he studied German and went up to Merton College, Oxford in October, where he played rugby for the college and was also a member of the OTC. He was commissioned on 2nd September 1914 and went to France on 28th February 1915. He was appointed acting Captain on 29th August. On 14th October 1915, he held a barrier across a trench in the Hohenzollern Redoubt, France against heavy German bomb attacks (the ‘bombs’ of the citation were early grenades) ordering a second barrier to be built behind him in order to secure the safety of the trench regardless of the fact that his own retreat would be cut off holding back the enemy for long enough for a second barrier to be completed. He was evacuated to England with his wounds. The VC was presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 15th January 1916. While recovering he served with a reserve Battalion from 1st June and was appointed Temporary Captain on 30th July. He returned to 1/7th Battalion in France on 23rd September. He then returned to England and became a company commander at No 19 Officer Cadet Battalion, Pirbright on 20th February 1917 and was graded as a staff captain while commanding a company within the Officer Cadet Battalion 5th May 1917 to 6th January 1918. Charles married Helen Tregoning nee Newton on 21st March 1918 at St Andrew’s Church, Haverstock Hill, London. They had two children: Pamela Tregoning Vickers and Douglas Burnell Horsey Vickers. Charles returned to France as acting Major and 2IC of 1st Lincolnshire from April to November 1918. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre in the defence of the Marne in June 1918.
William Burnell Vickers
Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone marking his grave at Vlamertinghe New Military cemetery, Belgium. Courtesy of Murray Biddle