William Charles Birtall has an index card at the County Record Office with the following information: Mold Rd. Ewloe Green, Reg. no. 240573, 1/5th Btn. RWF, L/Cpl. Died of wounds. Dated Nov. 16th, 1919 signed Mrs. E Iball.
From his Service Record we know that William Charles attested in the RWF on 4th August 1914 at Hawarden. He was born Chester, and was age 18 years 9 months when he attested. He was a labourer, with George Watkinson, resided in Ewloe Green and was not married. His mother and father were listed as “none”. He identified one full brother Reg Birtall age 26 of 40 Lee Rd. Hoylake, and half-brothers Thomas & William Griffiths age or address not known. He listed half-sisters Ellen Bradshaw age 42 of 72 Victoria Rd Crosby, Florence E. Brooks age 41 of 225 Halford Lane Smethwick, and Elizabeth North age 40 of 27 Church Close, Stoke Heath Coventry.
William Charles served in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force from July 1915 until he died in April 1918. He served at Gallipoli in 1915, and was hospitalized in Alexandria for exposure and frostbite in December 1915, before rejoining the battalion in Khatatbar Egypt in February 1916. He attended the Imperial School of Instruction, Zeitoun Egypt in May 1915 and was at various times appointed Acting L/Cpl.; to replace wounded comrades. He was wounded in action 29th April 1918, and he died on the 30th of wounds to the abdomen. He was awarded the British War and Victory medals, which were received by his sister, Mrs. E Bradshaw.
William Charles is found in the 1911 Census, age 15, living at 4 Barker Terrace, Blundellsands, Great Crosby, Lancashire, with sister Ellen who was married to William Bradshaw, a head caddie master at a golf club. He has not been found in the 1910 census. From a family tree on Ancestry.com, his parents were another William Charles Birtall and his second wife Jane Powis; their other children were Annie, Eva Annie, and Reg. William Charles’ first wife was Francis Lavinia Knowles and their children were Ellen Frances, Florence Emily. Elizabeth M, Charles Henry, and Fanny Birtall.
Also remembered on the Hawarden War Memorial, please click on the link.