16270, Private, 11th Battalion. Essex Regiment.
Died Of Wounds on the 1st October 1915 aged 19.
William was born and raised in the village of Codicote, Hertfordshire, the son of Thomas and Hannah Sams. He was a Farm Labourer before joining the Army.
He was living in Stevenage when he joined the Army and was posted to France on the 30th August 1915.
On the 26th September his Battalion were engaged in fighting in the Vermelles area, South-West of the town of La Bassee. The unit War Diary indicates that the Battalion encountered strong German resistance and were, eventually, forced to withdraw, having suffered over 350 casualties. It is believed that William was amongst the wounded and was evacuated to No.2 Stationary Hospital, Abbeville, where he died of his wounds on the 1st October 1915.
He is buried in the Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France. (2.E.7.)
Medal Entitlement: 1914/15 Star, British War Medal & Victory Medal.