Menu

Terry, William

William Terry was  Private 32061 in the  2/4th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in action France & Flanders on the 26th October 1917 and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

William Terry was born Rawtenstall, Lancashire in 1889, the son of George and Jane Ann Terry (nee Taylor). The census of 1891 records him living with his family in King Street, Rawtenstall, Lancashire. Head of the household was Jane A Terry aged 31. She was listed as a married woman but her husband was not present for the census. her listed children were Richard 12, Thomas 10, Martha 8, George 6, Albert 4 and William 2.

The next census of 1901  finds the family living at 8 Burnley Road, Rawtenstall. Head of the household was George Terry aged 43. He was a Labourer with ‘The Corporation’. His wife Jane A was 42. Their listed children were Richard 22, Tom 20, George 16, Albert 14, Willie 12 and  Sarah 10. There was a visitor recorded. He was Richard E Taylor aged 2.  All of the boys worked in the cotton industry.

In the census of 1911, William was living at 28 The Arch, Burnt Wood, Buckley, Flintshire.   Jane Ann Terry was Head of the household. She was married and aged 52  ( she had been born in 1859 in Newchurch Lancs). Once again, her husband was not listed on the census form.  The listed  children were  William Terry aged 22, a Blacksmith Striker and daughter Martha Terry  who was 28.

William returned to his Lancashire roots when he married Veronica Whittam Rowe in the first quarter of 1917  and they lived at Plumbe St. Burnley. He enlisted in Burnley and  was killed in action on the 26th October 1917.  He died near Ypres in what became known as the Battle of Passchendael. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

William’s brother Albert was killed on the first day of the Somme, July 1st 1916, and is remembered on the Thiepval memorial


Learn more about the other soldiers on the Buckley Memorial

Back to top