William Soles
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Soles was born in 1898 at Nottingham and was the son of Arthur a corporation labourer and Annie Soles née Gill of 26, Abbott St, Nottingham His father Arthur was born in 1867 at Nottingham and his mother Annie Gill was born in 1872 at Selston, they were married in 1896 at Nottingham, they had a further child a daughter Florence born 1902 at Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 26 Abbott Street, Nottingham and are shown as Arthur 42 yrs a corporation labourer, he is living with his wife Annie 44 yrs and their children William 13 yrs a scholar and Florence 9 yrs a scholar.
Private William Soles, was called up for service on 18th October 1916, he was 18 yrs and 230 days , his address was 26 Abbott Street, Nottingham and he was a carter. He was posted to serve with the 1/9th Battalion Royal Scots on 21st October 1916. He was transferred to class W Reserves and worked as a porter for the Highland Railway Company at Inverness. He was recalled to the Army on went to France on 4th April 1918 where he was killed in action on 1st August 1918. He is buried in Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire. (grave ref II.D.7)
Class W Reserve and its Territorial Force equivalent Class W(T) Introduced in June 1916 by Army Order 203/16 under Section 12 of the recent Military Service Act. This new class of reserve was ‘for all those soldiers whose services are deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment’. Men in these classes were to receive no emoluments from army funds and were not to wear uniform. They were liable at any time to be recalled to the colours. From the time a man was transferred to Class W, until being recalled to the Colours, he was not subject to military discipline. In memoriam published 1st August 1919 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “SOLES. – In loving memory of Pte. W. Soles, killed in action August 1st, 1918. Sadly missed. – Father, mother, sister, and cousin Ernest.” Above in memoriam is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
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