COLLEDGE, William Leonard

William Colledge was the son of Herbert and Sarah Colledge of 92 Buckpool, Wordsley. He volunteered for the South Staffords and served in the 1st Battalion on the Western Front. He joined them near Béthune in April 1915 and was in action at the Battle of Festubert in May and in the front line for the Battle of Loos which started on the 25th September. Serious losses in both battles were sustained. In February1916 they moved to the quiet Somme front opposite Mametz. April, however, was a vigorous month for raids and casualties. Lance Corporal William Colledge was in a bombing party on a German trench which met a larger enemy party in the trench. Most of the Staffords were casualties including William Colledge who was seriously injured. He was taken to a Main Dressing Station where he died on the 25th April. He was 19 years of age and is buried in Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery (I B 17) near Bray and commemorated on the Wordsley Memorial.