William Vodden was born in Buckland Brewer in 1888. The 1891 census lists the family living at “Potheridge Cottage, Buckland Brewer” with a household of six others. William’s parents are Robert Vodden, born in St Giles in the Wood in 1857, who works as a “woodman”; and his mother, Elizabeth, born in Great Torrington in 1861. William’s sister and brother, Bessie (9), born in Great Torrington, and John (5), born in Buckland Brewer are both in the household. They are also joined by William’s uncles, Thomas Vodden, working as a mason, and Mark Richards, who is also a woodman.

In 1891, William was enrolled into Buckland Brewer Board School by his father, but by 1895 the family had moved to Great Torrington where he was enrolled into Great Torrington School.

By 1901, the family can be found at 87 Well Street, Great Torrington. Father, Robert, now works as a general labourer whilst his mother is now employed as a silk glove maker. Older brother, John, is still resident with the family, whilst there are now three younger brothers as well showing a growing family. Thomas was born in 1893, Bertie in 1896 and Cecil in 1898. At the age of 13 years, William has a job as an errand boy.

Finding William in the 1911 census was tricky, partly as he’d moved away from Devon and partly as they’d misspelt “Torrington” in the census collection. By this time, William had moved to Monmouthshire in Wales, living at 3 Park Street. He was living at this address as a boarder with head of household Mary Ann Davies, who is a 76 year old widower. Her daughter, Alice Maud (30) also lives at the property, as does fellow boarder Earnest Powell, who works as a local “pattern maker”. William had found employment as a general labourer.

I have not been able to determine an enlistment date for William, but records show that his enlistment place was Pontypool, which is only a short distance from Monmouthshire. He joined the Kings Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) and was entered into the 8th Battalion. His service number was 28245.

The 8th Battalion was raised at Lancaster from October 1914 as part of Kitchener’s Third New Army. Following enlistment and training, the first recruits landed at Le Havre by late September 1918. The 8th Kings Owns would see a great deal of action in the French theatre, including battles with the Somme offensive and the third battle of Ypres.

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The Battle of Lys was part of the 1918 German Spring Offensive and a last toll of the dice by the German forces to force back the Allies around Ypres.  The aim of the Battle of Lys from the German point of view was to capture Ypres and the surrounding high ground. The River Lys formed a barrier between two Allied armies. The First Army commanded by General Horne was south of the river while the Second Army commanded by General Plumer was to the north.

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As part of these month long engagements, the town of Bethune was assaulted on 18th April 2018. Unfortunately, I have not been able to source any further information about precise details of the battle. However, the 8th Kings Owns were posted at the location with the 3rd Division of the First Army. Despite the attempt of the German Sixth army south of the main thrust of the attack to break through at Bethune, these advances were repelled.   

Records show that William Vodden was killed in action on 18th April 1918. Notice of his death was reported in the North Devon Journal on 13th June 1918 [1]. His parents are shown as living at 111 Well Street at the time.

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Although William’s grave is unmarked, he is commemorated at the Loos Memorial at Pas de Calais. As far as I am aware, William was unmarried and had no children. However, his wider family still live in the Great Torrington area and have helped contribute to the information above.  

[1] North Devon Journal. June 13th 1918. ‘Births, deaths and Marriages’