SKELTON, William

William Skelton was the son of David and Margaret Skelton of 150 High Street, Brierley Hill, and he was married to Frances Skelton of High Street, Kinver. He volunteered for the South Staffords and joined the 2/5th (Territorial) Battalion. Their first posting was Dublin where they helped to bring the 1916 Rising to an end. They fought on the Somme and in the Third Battle of Ypres. At Cambrai in December they were caught in the German counter-attack and suffered severely in the heavy gas attack on Bourlon Wood. It is possible that this contributed to the early death of Sergeant William Skelton on the 2nd May 1919. He was 32 years of age and is buried in St. Michael’s, Brierley Hill, Cemetery and commemorated on the Brierley Hill and Brierley Hill church Memorials.