Medal Roll and service papers exist for William Fleet from Birch Heath Lane in Christleton. William was the son of Joseph a railway worker and his wife Lucy. An early volunteer William joined the colours on 3rd September 1914, leaving his position as a van man on the same railway as his father. It is impossible to say exactly what happened to William as he died of wounds on 3rd July 1916 and we cannot tell when he was wounded. What we can say is that the battalion was in the middle of the opening stages of the Somme battle and casualties were extremely high. William died in the casualty clearing station at Heilly Station and is buried on the grave yard next to where the hospital was.

William lived in a 5 bedroom property in Birch Heath Lane with parents Joseph & Lucy Fleet. He and his siblings; Arthur, 1889, Eliza 1890, Joseph 1893, John 1898, Ernest 1902 were the grandchildren of John & Ann Fleet. William was employed by the Great Western Railway as a Parcels Delivery van driver. He was an outstanding sportsman, a good all round athlete and promising footballer. He was the best shot in the Institute Shooting team. He was also a valued member of the Young Men’s Institute and a member of Mrs Cullimore’s young man’s bible class.