PETE, William (Peate)

William Peate was the son of Joseph and Ann Peate of Bomere Heath near Shrewsbury and was married to Matilda of 86 Balds Lane, Lye. He was a pre-1914 regular soldier who had fought in the Boer War. He returned to serve in his old regiment, the Grenadier Guards, and was posted to the 4th Battalion in the 3rd Guards Brigade. They had been very active in 1915 and were again in the front line in 1916 for the September phase of the Battle of the Somme. They were posted at Delville Wood and on the 15th September suffered a setback in a preparatory attempt to take the village of Lesboeufs. They came forward again on the 25th as part of Haig's general offensive to start the third phase of the battle. The weather was fine and warm and the advance started at 12.35 p.m. The 4th Grenadiers were on the left of their brigade and were delayed by a German trench not dealt with by the artillery. A fierce fight ensued and the Guards stormed through. By 2.00 Lesboeufs had been captured and the day was a great success. However, among the casualties was Sergeant William Peate. He was 40 years of age and is buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 2 (IV H 20) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.