BINGHAM, William

William Bingham lived at 9 Angel Street, Stourbridge, and attended Oldswinford C of E School. Before the war he worked as a miner for Messrs Hall and Co. at the Delph. In 1914 he volunteered for the Territorials and joined the 1/7th Battalion of the Worcesters. They went overseas in March 1915, had front line service in quiet sectors of the Western Front and in June 1916 were ready for the big attack on the Somme. They were in reserve for the first day of the battle on the 1st July and then took over near Serre from the units which had suffered from that devastating first day. The fighting had died down but there were still casualties from shelling and snipers. Corporal William Bingham, together with Private Frederick Hill, a school friend, was killed in action on the 6th July. He was aged 21 and is buried in Sucrerie Cemetery (1 I 60) near Colincamps and commemorated on the Stourbridge, St. John's and St Thomas's churches and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.