‘Soldiers who Died in the Great War’ on www.ancestry.com tells us that William Hurst was born in Hollinwood , Lancashire. He was born in 1891. He died  in France/Flanders on 20th August 1917 aged 26. His Commonwealth War Grave certificate tells us that his parents were Frank and Agnes Hurst of Lower Farm, Treuddyn, Mold, Flintshire.

The 1901 census places the family at Rhyd y Ceinir Farm, Treuddyn where the father Frank 33, was employed as a gamekeeper. The mother, Agnes was 36 and both of them hailed from Oldham Lancashire originally. Their children were William 9, Mary 7, Albert 4, Harry 2. With them at that time was Alice Tetlow a sister in law to Frank and (her?) six children all of whom were from Oldham.

The next census of 1911 shows a change in Frank’s circumstances as by now he was a self employed farmer but still living at the same address.  William was employed on the family farm as was Mary who was a dairy maid.  Albert was 14 and a scholar but there is some mystery as to Harry’s whereabout as his name seems to have been added but then crossed out.

There is a card for William Hurst in the Flintshire Roll of Honour which gives his address as Lower Farm, his rank, regiment and number. It states he served for 1 year and 6 months and that he fell in action at Bony in France. The card was signed by Agnes Hurst.