Private 23897 William Corfield

Killed in Action on Tuesday, 9th October 1917, age 24.
Commemorated on Panel 88 to 90 and 162 of Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

2nd Bn., Hampshire Regiment. 88th Brigade of 29th Division.
Formerly 12278 Royal Berkshire Regiment, and 23897 1st Garrison Battalion, Hampshire Regiment.

Husband of Mrs Selina Corfield, of 98 Broad Street, Old Portsmouth, Hampshire.
Born: Hednesford, Enlisted: Smethwick, Resident: Birmingham.

First landed France & Flanders, 25th July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, 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/841361/

Genealogical Data

Birth of William Corfield registered December quarter 1892 in Cannock. Mother's maiden name was Grainger. William was born on 18th November 1892 at Hednesford, Staffordshire; he was baptised on 22nd January 1893 at the Primitive Methodist Church in Toll End, Tipton.

1901 Census
Back 98 Oldbury Road, Smethwick, Staffs.
William Corfield (33, Bricklayer’s Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Amelia (28, born Tipton), and their 4 children: William (8, born Hednesford), Alfred (4, born West Bromwich), Amelia B. (2, born West Bromwich) and Alice B. (7 months, born Smethwick).

1911 Census
78 Oldbury Road, Smethwick, Staffs.
William Corfield (43, Carter, born Tipton), his wife Amelia (38, born Tipton), and their 6 surviving children of 7: William (18, Engineer, born Hednesford), Alfred (14, Railway Carman, born West Bromwich), Amelia Bella (12, School, born Smethwick), Alice Beatrice (12, School, born Smethwick), Doris (7, School, born Smethwick) and Gladys (1, born Smethwick).

Marriage of William Corfield and Selina Lavender registered September quarter 1917 in Kings Norton.
They married on 1st July 1917 at St. Paul’s Church, West Smethwick. William was 23 years old, and a Private in the Hampshire Regiment, his father was also named William. Selina was 19 years old; her father was named Alfred but was deceased. The address for both was 2 Back of 82 Oldbury Road, this was the residence of William Corfield (senior) – see 1901 Census..

Personal Data

Soldiers Died in the Great War records that William was born in Great Bridge, Tipton. He wasn't, he was born in Hednesford. His parents were both from Tipton and despite being born in Hednesford, they came back to Tipton for his baptism. William lived in a number of places, but as far as I can see, never Tipton! Strictly, being neither born nor resident in Tipton, he does not ‘qualify’ for tiptonremembers, but having been here for a long time he is welcome to remain!

After William's death, his outstanding army pay and allowances amounted to £7/3/7d (7 pounds, 3 shillings and 7 pence); this was paid to his widow, Selina, in March 1918. His War Gratuity was £14/0/0d (14 pounds exactly), this was also paid to Selina in November 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that William had enlisted in September 1914.

William's widow, Selina, was granted a one-off pension grant of £5/0/0d in November 1917, and then a Widow's Pension of £0/13/9d (13 shillings and 9 pence) per week, effective from 6th May 1918. Her address was initially 98 Broad Street, Old Portsmouth, but changed to 3 Back 87 Oldbury Road, Smethwick. Selina's widow's pension would have stopped on her marriage to Frank Peyton in 1919; this would have been compensated by a Remarriage Grant, typically around a year's worth of pension payments.

Action resulting in his death

In the summer of 1917 the 2nd Hampshires (2/Hants) arrived in Belgium for their part in the Third Battle Ypres. This followed their involvement in the Battle of Arras in April 1917. 

Allied successes during the Battle of Ypres in September 1917 at the Battles of Menin Road and Polygon Wood and at the Battle of Broodseinde on 4th October, gave hopes of a breakthrough. However, after Broodseinde heavy rain made the battlefield a quagmire which favoured the defenders.

For the Battle of Poelcapelle, the 2/Hants were the third wave behind the 4th Worcesters and Newfoundland Regiment. They attacked from north of Langemarck (near today’s German Cemetery) heading north-west along the north bank of the Broombeck, roughly along the line of the Langemarck-Staden railway.

The attack successfully secured the Namur Railway Crossing and then their second objective before being held up in front of the third. After dark the Hampshires relieved the Newfoundland Regiment in what was now the front line astride the Poelcapelle-Les Cinq Chemins road.

During the day (9th October), the 2/Hants had 22 men killed. This include Private William Corfield, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Newspaper Cuttings

None.