William Appleby (1893-1917)
Sacriston born miner served as an Able Seaman in the Royal Naval Division
William Appleby was born on 29 July 1893 in Sacriston. His father was coal miner George Appleby born in 1865 in Rainton. His mother was Thomasine Appleby nee Purdom (1869-1952), a coal miner’s daughter from Hetton. His parents married around 1887 and had nine children made up of seven boys and two girls. At the 1901 census the Appleby family were recorded living at 18 George Street, Esh. At the 1911 census they were living at 13 East Terrace, Ushaw Moor and William was working as a coal miner.
William enlisted in the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) on 2 September 1915 but transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) at Crystal Palace on 10 September 1914. He joined the Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division on 16 January 1915 and served with them until he received a gunshot wound to his right ankle on 16 May 1915. After treatment he re-joined his battalion on 28 July 1915 until 11 November 1916 when he was treated for tonsillitis.
William was drafted to the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on 6 March 1917, re-joining Anson Battalion on 24 March 1917. He was killed in action on 26 October 1917 on the first day of the Second Battle of Passchendaele. No information was received as to the location of his grave and he is honoured on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Flanders, Belgium. He is remembered in his home town on the Plaque 1914-18 at both the Memorial Hall and St Luke’s Church, Ushaw Moor.
William Appleby was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal for his service in World War One.
Civil Parish: Esh
Birth date: 29-Jul-1893
Death date: 26-Oct-1917
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 18 George Street, Esh (1901 census)
13 East Terrace, Ushaw Moor (1911 census)
Employment: Coal miner (1911 census)
Family: Parents: George Appleby (b 1865), Thomasine Appleby nee Purdom (1869-1952)
Siblings: Richard Appleby (b 1888), Elizabeth Ann Appleby (b 1892), Catherine Appleby (b 1896), George Purdom Appleby (b 1899), Thomas Appleby (b 1902), Edward Appleby (b 1904), Matthew Appleby (b 1907), Norman Appleby (b 1909)
Military service:
Service number KP/845
Able seaman
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Anson Battalion, Royal Naval Division
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Flanders, Belgium
Plaque 1914-18, Memorial Hall, Ushaw Moor
Plaque 1914-18, St Luke’s Church, Ushaw Moor
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham