ABBIS, William

William Addis (Abbis on Memorial) was born in Gornal and was the son of Eli and Ann Addis who moved to Holly Hall, Dudley. He attended Claughton School in Dudley and was married to Mabel Addis of 19 Aston Road, Dudley. He enlisted in the Worcesters and was sent to the 3rd Battalion who fought long and hard in the 1916 Battle of the Somme and the 1917 Third Battle of Ypres. In March 1918 they were ordered to move forward to counter the first German Spring offensive which started at St. Quentin on the 21st. Attempted counter-attacks failed and the Worcesters were driven back over the old Somme battlefield. They were transferred to Ploegsteert Wood where they then faced the second German offensive on the Lys on the 9th April. Overwhelming German forces advanced and more heavy casualties were taken. It was a fighting retreat that took the Worcesters back to Kemmel. The overwhelming German forces eventually halted and were defeated on the Scherpenberg. The overall cost was very high and Private William Addis was among the wounded. He was taken to a Military Hospital near Calais where he died of wounds on the 4th May. He is buried in Arneke British Cemetery (II C 5) and commemorated on the Dudley, Woodside and Claughton school Memorials.