5368, Private, 1st Battalion, Hertfordshire Regiment.
Missing In Action on the 13th November 1916 aged 27.
William was the son of William & Alice Sapsed of Lymington Road, Stevenage.
He was killed in one of the last actions during the Battle of the Somme. This was the Battle of The Ancre during which the Battalion were called upon to assault German trenches just in front of a heavily fortified position known as the Schwaben Redoubt. The attack began at 5.45am whilst there was still a heavy mist on the ground. It was tough going for the troops who had to make their way through thick mud and many shell holes which covered the area. All of the officers in the leading Company had been killed or wounded and this added to the general confusion of battle. However, the Battalion managed to achieve their objectives but had suffered some losses.
William has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. (Pier/Face 12C.)
Medal Entitlement: British War Medal & Victory Medal.