Our People - William Tickle

1 October 1916
#633094 Private William Tickle
1/20th (County of London) Battalion (Blackheath and Woolwich), London Regiment
141st Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division  
Formerly 18503, Border Regiment
Killed in action 1 October 1916
Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Ref: Pier and Face 9D 9C 13C and 12C
William Tickle was born in 1892 to Richard and Elizabeth Ann Tickle (nee Ryding). Richard was an engine driver (stationary) in 1901. The couple had six children, Ellen Eccles Tickle b. 1879, Ralph Tickle b. 1884, Mary Howard Tickle b. 1888, William Tickle, Margaret b. 1894 and Alfred b. 1897. In 1901, the family lived at 226 Station Road. 

We don't know exactly when William joined up, but it seems likely that he volunteered in late 1914, as he was in France 14 July 1915. Shortly before he left for France, he married his sweetheart, Selina Joan Varley.

William's battalion took part in the Battle of Le Transloy and he was killed in action on the first day of the battle during the action to capture Eaucourt l'Abbaye. The entry below in the war diary of the battalion shows how the attack was supported by tanks.
"EAUCOURT L’ABBAYE district. Oct 1 7.0 a.m. Our artillery began a deliberate bombardment of FLERS and FLERS SUPPORT LINES and EAUCOURT L’ABBAYE. During the night, the battalion, together with the 17th & 19th LONDON REGT was assembled in advanced support line. 3.15 p.m. The three battalions with ANZACS on right and 50th DIV. on left attacked in four waves on a four company front & advanced under a creeping barrage. The first two waves in the cases of the 19th and 20th LONDON REGTS reached their final objectives and dug in on the further side of EAUCOURT L’ABBAYE. The third and fourth waves of the same battalions remained in the FLERS line, and dug in but were bombed back 100 yards by a small party of the enemy who had been overlooked. Two tanks co-operated and advanced along the FLERS and FLERS SUPPORT LINES and arrived about the centre of the abbaye when they saw troops on our left in retreat. The occupants set fire to their tanks and left. A block was formed in the FLERS line and held by our own bombers and trench mortar."
William's widow Selina received a war gratuity of £8 on 25 November 1919. William is also remembered on the Bamber Bridge - Brownedge St.Mary's R.C. War Memorial and a headstone memorial in St.Mary's churchyard. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

William's brother Alfred also attempted to enlist, however, he was found to medically unfit for service due to his eyesight.
William Tickle
Image courtesy of Jim Rawcliffe
CWGC William Tickle
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