William Haldane Round
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William Haldane Round known as 'Hal' was born at Belper, Derbyshire, 4th May 1893. and was the son of William a clergyman and Edith Hornby Round née Cheetham of 58 Forest Road West, Nottingham. His father William was born in 1863 at Penkridge, Staffordshire, and his mother Edith Hornby Cheetham was born in 1867 at London, they were married in 1893 at Lambeth and had a further child a daughter Sybil Margaret Round born 1896 at Belper.The family lived at Stonebroom, Derbyshire, and Radford, Nottingham.In the 1911 census the family are living at 58 Forest Road West, Nottingham, and are shown as William 48 yrs a clergyman; he is living with his wife Edith Hornby 48 yrs and her parents William Henry Cheetham 75 yrs and Emma Cheetham 76yrs, also living with them are 2 female servants. The later CWGC record gives his parents' address as East Drayton Vicarage, Retford, Nottinghamshire. His father was vicar of St Peter's, East Drayton, from 1919 until at least 1924.William Haldane was educated at St. John's School, Leatherhead, from 1903 and then in 1913 went to Downing College Cambridge.Probate was proven (with will) on 17th January 1917 at Nottingham and shows him as William Haldane Round 58 Forest Road West, Nottingham, Captain in H.M.Army died 1st July 1916 in France. Effects £2641 10shillings and 5pence. Administration awarded to Reverend William Round (father).
Captain William Haldane Round, was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 1/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment, on 26th August 1914 and went to France 28th February 1915. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 20th August 1915 and Captain in September 1915. He was killed in action, 1st July 1916, aged 23, in the attack on the German positions at Gommecourt, France, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He is buried in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery grave reference 1.L.18
He is also commemorated on the Downing College, Cambridge University, Roll of Honour. William is buried in the same grave as 4336 Private W George Lincolnshire Regiment and 386 Gunner Alec Bratby Royal Field Artillery who were also killed on 1 July 1916.Article published 8th September 1914 in the Nottingham Evening Post:- “Mr. W. H. Round, of the Cambridge O.T.C., son of the vicar of New Radford, has been commissioned as second-lieutenant in the Robin Hoods, and has joined the battalion for active service.” His sister, Sybil Margaret Round, married Captain John Percival Forster, 22nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, at All Saints' Church on 7th August 1915. Captain Forster and his best man, Captain, later Major Henry Sibbitt, 22nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, were also killed in action on 1st July 1916. Above article is information are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 :Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged) 6 July 1916: 'ROUND killed in action July 2nd (sic) William Haldane Round, captain Sherwood Foresters, only son of Rev William Round, vicar of New Radford, age 23 years.'
