William Henry Gasson
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Son of William Henry and Sarah Ann Gasson, of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
In 1921 the family where living at 80 Honey Street, Sutton in Ashfield and in 1939 they where at Coronation Street, Sutton in Ashfield.
His sister Kate Amelia was born December 1914 and died aged 19 in 1934 and his brother Edgar was born in 1923.
William Henry snr had enlisted in the 2nd Bn Sherwood Foresters in February 1905 and served until March 1012 when he was transferred to the reserve forces. He was recalled to the colours on 5th August 1914, but was captured and became a prisoner of war on 20th October 1914. He wasn't repatriated until 2nd January 1919.
The main battalion sailed from Southampton to Amsterdam on the 14th january 1940 and a further tranche of men sailed on the 16th to Le Harve in a heavy snow-storm. They were billetted in a mining village, Le Forest. Luckily this provided a ready supply of coal to combat the intense cold but even so many men came down with colds and chest infections. They were then deployed to the Gort Line (named after General Lord Gort, Commander of the B.E.F) a 45 mile long defensive line running along the French/Belguim border.
Once the Germans invaded the Netherlands on the 10th May the 7th Bn and the 2nd Dorsets started to withdrew. On the 16th May they were at Le Hulpe/Forest of Soignes very close to the site of the Battle of Waterloo near Brussels. Over the next 10 days they retreated towards Dunkirk. By the 25th they were at Givenchy but under sustained attack. "C" company had been completely surrounded by the 26th May.
William is buried at the Violaines Communal Cemetery. Out of the 27 men buried there 13 are from the 7th Bn Worcestershire Regiment.
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