BREESE, William

William Breese was the son of William and Lucy Breese of 61 Collis Street, Amblecote, a glassmaker, and attended the Coalbournbrook schools. He enlisted in 1912 in the 3rd Battalion of the Worcesters and at the outbreak of war he was stationed at Aldershot in the British Expeditionary Force. They were quickly sent to France after the declaration of war and after reaching Mons they were obliged to endure the long retreat for 10 days to the Marne. They counter-attacked to drive the German forces back to the Aisne and then moved to Artois to block the next German attack. They were in the front line for the Battle of Armentières from the 12th October and then moved to Flanders and the Messines Ridge where another German advance threatened the high land beyond. By December the weather prevented any further major attacks and German victory had been thwarted. But their artillery never let up. The Worcesters suffered seven deaths in January 1915, all caused by shell-fire, and Private William Breese was one of them on the 7th January. He was 22 years of age and is buried in Messines Ridge British Cemetery (III B 18) and commemorated on the Amblecote Memorial. A brother, Victor, served in the Dragoon Guards and survived and another, Alfred, who served in the South Staffords died on the 7th November 1914.