Private 20801 William Amos

Killed in Action on Thursday, 24th August 1916, age 34.
Commemorated on Pier and Face 5 A and 6 C of Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

3rd Bn., Worcestershire Regiment. 7th Brigade of 25th Division.

Husband of Mrs Clara Amos.
Born: Dudley Port, Enlisted: Worcester, Resident: Dudley.

First landed France & Flanders, before 1st January 1916.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Dudley Clock Tower Memorial.
Commemorated here because his death was reported in the Tipton Herald.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/773492/

Genealogical Data

Birth of William Henry Amos registered December quarter 1881 in Dudley.

1891 Census
2 The City, Dudley Port, Tipton, Staffs.
Frederick Amos (46, Puddler in Ironworks, born Tipton), his wife Sarah (46, born Dudley), and their 3 children: Frederick (16, Ironworker in Mill, born Tipton), William (10, Scholar, born Tipton), and Elizabeth (4, Scholar, born Tipton).

1901 Census
1 Court 1 House, Coneygree Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Frederick Amos (56, Roadman Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Sarah (56, born Dudley), and their 3 children: Frederick (25, Ironworks Puddler, Deaf, born Tipton), William (20, Labourer in Ironworks, born Tipton), and Elizabeth (13, Deaf, born Tipton).

William Henry Amos maried Clara Poole at St. Thomas, Dudley in June quarter 1910.

1911 Census
17a Earl Street, Dudley, Worcs.
William Amos (29, Labourer in Ironworks, born Tipton), and his wife Clara (24, born Dudley).

Personal Data

Soldiers Died in the Great War' records William as born and resident in Dudley. I assume this to mean born in Dudley Port as this is definitely him. Just before his birth, according to the 1881 Census, his parents Frederick & Sarah were living at 3 The Courtyard, Sedgley Road East, Tipton.

Action resulting in his death

The Leipzig Salient and the Leipzig Redoubt followed the natural contours of the land, holding the high ground as the land fell away into the Ancre valley, about 3/4 of a mile to the south of Thiepval. Some initial success had been achieved in early July 1916 in capturing a portion of the front line of the Leipzig Salient, but the inner defences - the Leipzig Redoubt - were still in German hands.

The 3rd Worcesters returned to the Leipzig Salient on 21st August when they provided fire support to a 1st Wiltshires attack; the main action of the Worcesters came between the 24th and 26th August. On the 24th the 3rd Worcesters and the 1st Wiltshires attacked the strong German position known as "Lemberg Trench". Fierce bombing exchanges took place at both flanks as the Germans attempted to retake the ground, but the Worcesters bombers held them back. Despite the German counter-attacks and artillery fire, the Worcesters were able to conslidate the captured trench and to maintain the gain.

On 24th August, 1 Officer and 31 Other Ranks were killed. This number included Private William Amos and Lance-Corporal Harold Oakley, both Tipton men. Neither has a known grave and are commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing.

Newspaper Cuttings

Tipton Herald 9th September 1916
A DUDLEY PORT SOLDIER KILLED.
To the ever increasing death toll of the war has to be added a Dudley Port soldier. Private William Amos joined the 3rd Worcesters a year last January, and when he had been at the front six months he was wounded. He was in hospital for some time, and on complete recovery he went back into the fighting line, and on the 24th August he was killed in action. He had only returned to the front some seven weeks when he fell. Information received by his wife shows that the death was instantaneous. Before joining the colours, Private Amos - who was a native of Tipton - was employed at Messrs Holcrofts' works at Tividale. He leaves a widow and two children, for whom much sympathy is felt.