William Coulson was born in October 1890 at Oswestry. His mother was Esther Coulson. In 1891 William, aged 6 months, was living at 12 Swan Crescent with his great grandfather, Joshua Field. Also present were Joshua’s daughter Esther Field, sons John and Oswald and grandsons Frank and Larry, aged 16 and 8. William’s mother is not present but is recorded as working as a house servant at Onston Farm near Tetchill, aged 20 and single. This suggests William was illegitimate.

In 1901 he was still living at Swan Crescent – now with head of household as his aunt Esther Leigh. His mother was now working at Butney Farm at Whitchurch, again as a domestic servant. She was still single but in 1903 married Walter John Coombes and by 1911 was living with him and step son at Brynn Bank Farm, Gorstage near Northwich. They would go on to live at 35 Mill Braw Cottages, Speke, Liverpool and then at Priory Farm, Woolton, Liverpool.

No record can be found for William in the 1911 census. He was mostly likely in the regular army having joined in 1909 when he turned 18. He had enlisted in Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Wrexham and posted to 1 battalion. At the outbreak of war the battalion was stationed at Malta. They returned to England and landed at Zeebrugge on 7 October 1914. Between then and William’s death on 9 August 1915 the battalion had been heavily engaged during First Ypres and the British Spring offensives at Neuve Chapelle and Festubert. During June, July and the early part of August they had remained around Festubert and Richbourg D’Avoue alternating with time at the front and in billets in the rear area. William is given as ‘died of exhaustion’ at 6 Casualty Clearing Station based in Lillers. He is buried at Lillers Communal Cemetery. He is also recorded on the war memorial at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry but is incorrectly listed as King’s Shropshire Light Infantry.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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