COLE, William

William Cole was the son of William/and Jane Cole of 2 Court, 3 St James Terrace, Dudley, He was a regular soldier in the 1st Battalion of the Staffords. They were sent to the defence of Ypres in October 1914 and then went to Artois for the Spring battles of 1915. They fought at Neuve Chapelle in March and nearby on the 9th May. The second battle was a failure and another attack was ordered at Festubert for the 16th May. This was a night attack which achieved no advantage. Private William Cole was seriously injured in one of the battles and was sent home to a hospital at Oxford for treatment. He died of his wounds on the 25th May. He was 21 years of age and is buried in Botley Cemetery, Oxford, (II 24) and commemorated on the Dudley Memorial.