William Maurice Westman
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Maurice was the son of John and Evelyn Westman (née Smith). Both his parents were born in Bradford, his father in 1870 and his mother in 1871. They were married in 1895 and had three children: Doris b. 1895, Fred Stanley b. 1897 and William Maurice b. 5 December 1898 (reg. 1899). All three children were born in Bradford and baptised at Horton All Saints, William on 31 December 1898. In 1901 John, Evelyn and their three children were living on College Road, Bradford, but had moved to 50 Oulton Terrace, Bradford, by 1911. John Westman died in 1931. In 1939 his widow Evelyn was living on St Stephen's Terrace, Bradford, with her married son, Fred, and his wife Doris (née Sanders, m. 1925). Her daughter Doris had married Fernleigh W Willcocks, who was still serving in the army, in February 1919 but she had died in 1936. Evelyn died in 1952.
Private William Maurice Westman enlisted in Bradford and served with the 15th battalion Durham Light Infantry. William was killed in action on 31st March 1918 at the start of the German Spring offensive. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France (Panel 68 to 72). CWGC - History of Pozieres Memorial (extract). 'The Memorial encloses Pozieres British Cemetery and relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918.'
Probable id. Only CWGC W Westman. Connection with Cropwell Bishop unknown. The family was living in Bradford at the time of the 1901 and 1911 Census. Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father John was his legatee. WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: named his mother, Evelyn, of Manningham, Bradford. British Red Cross & OSJ Enquiry List Wounded & Missing 1914-1919: William was reported missing or wounded on 21 March 1918 but the enquiry period covered 21-31 March.
