10061 Cpl William Bolesworth, 1st Bn, Leics Regt

10061 Corporal William Bolesworth of the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, died of wounds on the 13th May 1915. He was one of 961 British Army officers and men to die on this day. William was born in Hinckley and was living there when he enlisted. He joined the regiment at Leicester.

William's number dates to the 3rd October 1908, a special reservist who later transferred to the regular, 1st Battalion, and retained his special reserve number. His partial service record survives in the WO 363 series at the National Archives and we can see that in October 1908 he was 28 years and four months old, five feet ten inches tall, and working as a hosiery hand.

William was a committed Special Reservist. He underwent a musketry training course for one month in 1909 and was present at the 3rd Battalion's annual training camps every year from 1909 to 1914. The duration of these courses - or William's attendance anyway - varied from two to three weeks and it was whilst he was attending the 1914 course that Britain went to war with Germany. He was mobilised the following day and promoted to corporal on the 8th August. On the 9th November 1914, having transferred to the 1st Battalion, embarked for France.

William was a married man and a father. His wife, Enid, is recorded as his next of kin and a son - Walter George Bolesworth - is also mentioned. William's home address is given as 17 Spring Gardens, Hinckley.

William is buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord).

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry (MIC, WO 363)
Soldiers Died in The Great War
Army Service Numbers
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission