Private 28048 William Arthur Causer

Died of Wounds on Thursday, 22nd August 1918, age 21.
Buried in Grave A. 9. at Moyenneville (Two Tree) Cemetery, Pas De Calais, France.

3rd Bn., Grenadier Guards. 2 (Gds) Brigade of Guards Division.

Son of Samuel and the late Jemima Causer, of 32 Horseley Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Tipton, 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/569737/

Genealogical Data

Birth of William Arthur Causer registered September quarter 1897 in Dudley. Mother's maiden name was Bradley. William was baptised on 20th June 1897 in St. Luke's Mission, Tipton.

1901 Census
12 Court 2 House, New Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Samuel Causer (49, Coal Miner - Pikeman, born Tipton), his wife Jemima (47, born Shipton), and their 4 children: Edward (21, Iron Roller, born Tipton), John (11, born Tipton), Samuel (10, born Tipton), and William (3, born Tipton).

1911 Census
13 Court 10 House, New Road, Tipton, Staffs.
Samuel Causer (59, Widower, Collier - Hewer, born Tipton), his daughter Charlotte Izon (34, born Tipton) and her husband John Izon, and 3 of Samuel's sons: John (21, Iron Moulder, born Tipton), Samuel (19, Smith's Striker, born Tipton), and William (13, Errand Boy, born Tipton).

Personal Data

After William's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £12/14/7d (12 pounds, 14 shillings and 7 pence); this was paid to his sole legatee, Miss Florence Blackham, in February and June 1919. His War Gratuity was £8/0/0d (8 pounds exactly), this was also paid to Miss Florence Blackham (a sweetheart??) in December 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that William had enlisted in approximately November 1916.

William's father, Mr Samuel Causer, was awarded a Dependant's Pension of 12/6d (12 shillings and 6 pence) per week from 15th October 1919 to 30th November 1920. His address at that time was 32 Horseley Road, Tipton, but later changed to 10 Bridge Street and then to 16 Churchyard Road, Tipton. The Pension Card states that Samuel's pension was suspended following his admission to Dudley Infirmary for "Mental Treatment". Samuel died on 9th October 1921 from Bronchitis and Senectus (senility); the place of death was 10 Burton Road, Sedgley, which was the address of the Dudley Workhouse.

Action resulting in his death

The Battle of Albert commenced on 21st August 1918 at 4.55am. The 3rd Grenadier Guards were in the second wave of the Guards Division assault near Moyenville, about mid-way between Arras and Bapaume. They were to advance 90 minutes after zero-hour, and take the third objective, a section of the enemy line on rising ground just east of the Arras-Albert railway.

Early morning fog lifted which gave the German artillery and machine guns better visibility, but by midday all objectives including Moyenville had been taken. The 3rd Grenadier Guards had taken a chalk pit to the south east of Moyenville, and a platoon even reaching as far as Courcelles. The Guards were now on the railway under heavy fire, and tanks were intended to push the assault forward, however none arrived and there was no further movement on the day.

On the next day, 22nd August, little happened as preparations were being made to continue the attack.

The 3rd Grenadier Guards had 8 men killed on the 21st August, and a further 13 on the supposedly quiet 22nd. William Causer was killed on 22nd August, and is buried along with a number of his comrades, at Moyenville (Two Tree) Cemetery.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.