BURCHELL, William

William Burchell was the son of Albert and Catherine Burchell of 24 St. John Street, Netherton, and attended the Claughton School.. He enlisted in the Worcester Territorials and went to the 1/8th Battalion in the 48th (South Midland) Division. The battalion went to the Western Front in April 1915 and fought tenaciously in the 1916 Battle of the Somme at Ovillers and on the Ancre. In early 1917 it followed up the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line and captured the Mound at Templeux-Gueraed in a remarkable exploit. In August it was closely involved in the Battle of Langemarck during the Third Battle of Ypres and on the 24thAugust attempted to capture the strongest of the fortified farms and blockhouses on the Steenbeck. Enemy machine guns and the mud of Flanders broke up the attack but they tried again on the 27th without artillery, hoping to achieve surprise. The attack failed again and among those killed in action was Private William Burchell. He was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot, Dudley and Claughton school Memorials.