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Piercy, William

William Piercy was born in 1899 and named after his father. He was first recorded on a census in 1901. He was living with his family in Duck Street Sychdyn (now known as Duke Street).  Head of the household was William Piercy aged 26 and a Coal Miner (Filler). His wife was Isabella aged 27. They had three boys, Griffith was 3, William 2 and Thomas 2 months.

Please refer to Griffith Piercy’s page. William died 5 months before his brother. He too is commemorated on the family grave in Northop Churchyard.

The next census of 1911, places the family at Offa Bank (a smallholding on the edge of Sychdyn). William was 36 and still a Coalminer/hewer. His wife of 14 years, Isabella was 37. She had given birth to 7 children who were all still living.  They were all listed. Griffith 13 was a shop assistant for a Boot maker. William was 12, Thomas 10, Jane 7, George 5, Mary 2 and Osborne 6 months.

William, like his brother Griff, enlisted in Mold.

He was killed on the Marne (Western Front) 30th May 1918 age 19. Willie was firstly declared ‘missing’ for some weeks before finally being pronounced, dead.

Northop Parish Magazine November 1918
“Roll of Honour…
From time to time during war, tidings of the supreme sacrifice has reached many a family in the Parish and to these we have added another which is of unusual significance. Mr and Mrs Piercy, Offa Bank, Soughton have been informed of their two boys Griffith and Willie having fallen at the Front in France. The news arrived on two successive days and we can imagine the grief it caused. Two better boys never joined the colours. Their genial disposition and noble bearing were known to all who knew them and their upbringing leave no cause for regret to their parents. We offer our deepest sympathy with their relatives in their bereavement.”

Many grateful thanks also to Mrs Jane Bradshaw, niece of Griff and Will for sharing with us so many photographs and artefacts pertaining to the two brothers.  (Scroll down below the map below). We have included some of her other photographs on ‘Sychdyn’s Homefront WW1 page’.

  • The young Piercy family. Left to Right William jnr 5/6 yrs, William (father) with Thomas 3 / 4 yrs, Griffith 6/7yrs, Isabella (mother) with baby Jenny 1yr.

  • Infants at Northop National School. The Piercy boys are standing next to each other with their arms folded (nicely) on the second row from the front. Griff is fourth from the left and Willy fifth.

  • Northop National School. The Piercy boys are standing on the back row. Willy is the first boy from left and Griff is the fifth. There must be other boys here that were killed in the war and named on the memorial. Mr Richardson on the right.

  • Private 62408 William Piercy of the 9th Welsh Regiment

  • This oak carving was done by one of the brothers but nobody knows whether it was Griff or Will.

  • 18th October 1918

    The County Herald

  • William’s citation from the County of Flintshire

  • Gratitude from the nation

  • Mr and Mrs Piercy had this plaque on the wall in their home

  • Griffith’s and William’s medals

  • Thanks to Bill Piercy, William’s nephew and namesake, for allowing us to scan this fine large bronze medallion which was awarded to Mr and Mrs Piercy to commemorate their son’s sacrifice.

  • July 1918

    Parish Magazine
    "Roll of Honour…
    We are sorry to hear of Willie Piercy one of our old boys being wounded in France. We trust he is not seriously wounded and that he will soon be right again."

  • September 1918

    Northop Parish Magazine
    "Roll of Honour…
    other anxious parents in the parish who are eagerly expecting to hear from their missing sons. We are sorry to hear that Ben Jones East Northop, Willie Piercy Soughton and Willie Driver, The Gardens are still unreported. They were all on the Western Front when they disappeared. We sincerely hope they will soon be heard of and that they are fairing pretty well amongst others who are prisoners of war."

  • November 1918

    Northop Parish Magazine
    "Roll of Honour…
    From time to time during war, tidings of the supreme sacrifice has reached many a family in the Parish and to these we have added another which is of unusual significance. Mr and Mrs Piercy, Offa Bank, Soughton have been informed of their two boys Griffith and Willie having fallen at the Front in France. The news arrived on two successive days and we can imagine the grief it caused. Two better boys never joined the colours. Their genial disposition and noble bearing were known to all who knew them and their upbringing leave no cause for regret to their parents. We offer our deepest sympathy with their relatives in their bereavement."

  • Will’s grave at Chambrecy British Cemtery. The inscription reads…

    "62408 Private
    W Piercy
    Welch Regiment
    30th May 1918 age 19
    What I do
    Thou knowest not now
    But thou shalt know
    hereafter."

  • 14th April 2014

    We visited this cemetery on the 14th April 2014. The photograph was taken from a standing point just in front of Will’s grave. The rolling surrounding countryside is beautiful. It sits in the champagne region of France and the brown fields on the far side of the valley are in fact vineyards. At that time of the year the vines were little more that gnarled black stumps. The cemetery was surrounded by fields of piercing yellow oil seed rape crops. As you scroll around the photograph you might just spot our trusty campervan.

    We wrote in the Cemetery Book:

    "Visit in memory of Will Piercy whose family told us all about him and his brother Griff who also died in the war. Two Sychdyn lads."

    (Visit by Eifion and Viv Williams)


Learn more about the other soldiers on the Soughton (Sychdyn) Memorial

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