MAYCROFT, William

William Maycroft was a pre-war regular soldier who was born in Wordsley and enlisted in the Worcesters. He served in the 3rd Battalion and was possibly in the Reserve in 1914. He fought in the opening battles of 1914 on the Aisne and early in 1915 they were stationed near Ploegsteert and fought in the Artois battles including Loos in September. The Worcesters came into the front line for the 1916 Battle of the Somme and were in support of the main attack on the 1st July at Aveluy. In the next few days they attempted to push forward against the strong enemy defences in front of Ovillers. They returned for the third phase of the battle on the 26th September when the focus of attack was the ridge above Grandcourt and the German strong point of Stuff Redoubt. It was eventually taken and kept against massive counter-attacks but Private William Maycroft died of wounds on the 12th October. He is buried in Pozières British Cemetery (III T 8) and commemorated on the Wordsley Memorial.