Gunner 163940 William Causer
Photograph, birth and marriage details, and newspaper cuttings are courtesy of Patricia Fielding, William's granddaughter.
Also the generous assistance of Diane Shakespeare is acknowledged. Further picture at bottom of page.
Died Home on Sunday, 20th May 1917, age 31.
Buried in Grave 8. CE.C 4030. at Smethwick (Uplands) Cemetery, Smethwick, Staffs, United Kingdom.
Royal Field Artillery, 8th Division Ammunition Column.
Husband of Emily Causer, of 504, Dudley Rd., Birmingham.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Smethwick, Resident: Unknown.
First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.
Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.
Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/395209/
Genealogical Data
Birth of William Causer registered March quarter 1886 in Dudley. He was actually born on 11th December in Wood Street, Tipton.
1891 Census
47 Wills Street, Smethwick, Staffs.
William Causer (33, Puddler, born Tipton), his wife Eliza (30, born Tipton), and their 3 children: William (5, born Tipton), John (3, born Smethwick), and Charles (2 months, Born Smethwick).
1901 Census
56 Wills Street, Smethwick, Staffs. - Surname recorded as Causier
William Causer (42, Puddler in Iron Worker, born Tipton), his wife Eliza (40, Grocer Shopkeeper, born Tipton), and their 4 children: William (16, Labourer in tube Works, born Tipton), John (12, Cabinet Maker, born Smethwick), Walter (3, born Smethwick), and Eric (2, Born Smethwick).
Marriage of William Causier (sic) and Emily Denny registered March quarter 1908 in King's Norton. They were actually married on 22nd March 1908 at St. Matthew's Church, Smethwick.
Despite their marriage in 1908, on the 1911 Census William and Emma are shown living seperately with their respective parents. This could be due to economic circumstances, living accomodation issues, or just errors in the census.
1911 Census
19, Back of 71 Upper Grove Street, Smethwick, Staffs.
William Causer (50, Unemployed Iron Worker, born Tipton), his wife Eliza (49, born Tipton), and their 4 surviving children of 7: William (25, Labourer in Tube Works, born Tipton), John (22, Cabinet Maker, born Smethwick), Walter (13, born Smethwick), and Leonard (6, Born Smethwick).
1911 Census
91 Reynolds Street, Smethwick, Staffs.
Emma Denny (59, Widowed, Laundress, born Smethwick), and her 5 surviving children of 6, including: Emily (24, Married, Machinist, born Smethwick).
Birth of William and Emily's son, John Causer (to be known as Jack), registered September quarter 1916 in Birmingham. He was actually born on 1st July 1916, a momentous day!
Birth and marriage details are courtesy of PooleCausier.
Personal Data
The spelling of William's surname causes confusion. The registration of his birth gives the spelling as Causer, but the registration of his marriage, and even his grave headstone, gives the spelling as Causier. Here we use Causer as this is the spelling used in all official matters concerning his army service.
William died at the American Women's War Relief Hospital in Paignton, Devon, also known as the American War Hospital No. 1. Before the war this was a palatial house called "Oldway" belonging to the Singer family, of sewing machine fame; it was said to have been modelled on Versailles Palace. By early 1914 it had been converted into probably the most palatial War Hospital at a cost of £5,000, paid for by the Singer family. Wealthy American women living in Britain funded the hospital through the American Women's War Relief Committee. Money for ambulances, operating theatres, and other equipment was raised in part by Nancy Astor, Lady Paget, and Lady Churchill; wards in the hospital were later named after them.
In September 1917, William's widow Emily received his outstanding army pay and allowances of 5/11/5d (5 pounds, 11 shillings and 5 pence). In October 1919 she also received £3 as William's War Gratuity; this amount suggests that he had enlisted within 12 months of his death on 20th May 1917.
Action resulting in his death
William served with the 8th Division Ammunition Column (DAC) of the Royal Field Artillery; the DAC was responsible for transporting munitions generally from railheads to Brigade Ammunition Dumps. We cannot determine where, or when, he received the wounds which led to his death as he moved back through the Casualty Clearing chain before arriving back in 'Blighty'. His Soldier's Papers may have held some clue, but they were amongst those destroyed during the blitz of WW2. In the early part of 1917, the 8th Division was involved in following up the Germans in their retreat to the Hindenburg Line.
After William's death in Paignton, his body was returned to Smethwick and he was buried in Smethwick (Uplands) Cemetery.
Newspaper Cuttings
Newspaper Uncertain, possibly Smethwick Telephone June 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR.
CAUSER- On the 20th of May at Paignton (S. Devon) Military Hospital, Gunner W. Causer, died of wounds received in action in France; aged 31. Deeply mourned by Wife, Child, Mother, Father, and Brothers.
Newspaper Uncertain, possibly Smethwick Telephone June 1917
IN MEMORIAM.
CAUSIER- In loving memory of my dear husband, Gunner William Causier (late R.F.A.), who died May 20th 1917, from wounds received in France.
We cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see, But all is well that's done by Thee.
Some day we shall understand, Some day, we know not when,
We shall clasp his hand in the better land, Never to part again.
Will never be forgotten by his loving wife, Pem, and little son, Jackie.
also
IN MEMORIAM.
CAUSIER- In loving memory of our dear son, Gunner William Causier (late R.F.A.), who died May 20th 1917, from wounds received in France.
We loved him in life, he is dear to us still,
But in grief we must bend to God's Holy will.
Never forgotten by his mother and father, also brothers (Jack, Walter and Len).
William's son John (Jack) and his widow Emily. Probably mid-late 1920's.