WW1 Casualty: Lance Corporal 23006 William Frederick Hamecher - Lance Corporal 23006 William Frederick Hamecher
| Unit/Regiment |
13th Bn., Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) |
| Date of Death |
06/03/1916 |
Age at Death |
21 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Loos Memorial
Panel 10 to 13 |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of Annie Matilda Hamecher of 30, Arkwright Street, Bolton, and the late John H. H. Hamecher |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
The Hamecher family were living at 316, Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Lancashire and consisted of father Hermes, a 51 year old maker of cordials, his wife Matilda, 41, and children Matilda (9), John (8), William (6) and Doris (6 months)
1911 Census -
16 year old William lived at 75, Arkwright Street, Bolton with his parents. He was single and employed as a Tea Merchant's Assistant |
| Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations |
Birth Registered Q4/1894, Prescot, 8b, 6097 |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Prescot, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
Bolton |
| How Died |
Killed in Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P138 |
Service DetailsAlthough the Hamecher family lived in Bolton at the time of the 1901 census, they had moved around south Lancashire for several years. William's father, Herman, was born in Germany around 1850, his wife was a native of Gloucestershire, but all the children were born in either Prescot, West Derby or Wigan.
WIlliam was baptised at St Mary's on 6th March 1895, the records showing his date of birth as 12th November 1894. His father, John Henry Hamecher, was listed as a "Manufacturer of Leather Goods".
William Hamecher attested to the Royal Scots Regiment, the most senior regiment in the British Army, on the 31st May 1915 at Bolton. He recorded that he lived at 30, Arkwright Street, Bolton, that he was aged 20 years 180 days and was working as a Shop Assistant. His next of kin was noted as his mother, Annie Matilda Hamecher of the same address.
He was initially posted to the 4th Battalion of the regiment on 4th June 1915 and undertook his training with them. He remained in the UK training until 3rd October 1915, when he embarked for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force, arriving there the following day and being immediately posted to the 13th Battalion of the regiment. On October 12th 1915, Pte. Hamecher wrote a brief will in which he stated 'In the event of my death I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs. Hamecher of 30, Arkwright Street, Bolton'.
It seems likely that Pte. Hamecher joined the battalion as one of the replacements much needed after the losses at the Battle of Loos in September. They did not get involved in any major actions for the next few months, and it is probable that Pte. Hamecher was a victim of the normal daily grind of trench life.
William Hamecher died of wounds at St Georges Advanced Dressing Station (ADS) on 6th March 1916. He was buried close to the dressing station, which was located about 3 miles south of La Bassee, but his grave was lost in subsequent fighting and he is now remembered on the Loos Memorial.
The record of William Hamecher's original burial, subsequently lost
On 22nd April 1916, his mother, having been informed of her son's death, wrote to the regiment to say that her son had told her that his will was with the regiment, but that when she registered her claim with the War Office, they replied that no such will was in their department. Consequently, she asked for the will to be sent direct to her from the regimental records office.
No return correspondence exists, but it seems that the fact that a copy of his will is part of the records file suggests that it was indeed returned to his mother.
The War Office wrote to the Records Office of the Royal Scots at Hamilton on 18th May 1916 requesting that any personal possessions of Pte. Hamecher should be returned to his mother at the Bolton address. Then in October 1919, the War Office wrote to Mrs. Hamecher asking for full details of living family members of Pte. Hamecher in order that they could correctly deliver the Memorial Plaque and Scroll.
The returned form noted that he was single and did not have any children, it confirmed his mother's details and added that his father was John Henry Herman Hamecher of the same address. Brothers John (26) and Harold (16), were listed, along with sisters Matilda (28) and Doris (19). The name of his father conflicts with that shown on the 1901 census, suggesting a transcription error by the census enumerator.
The Register of Soldiers Effects, shown below, lists William;s mother, Annie Matilda, as next of kin
William Hamecher's Medal Index Card (below), confirms that he arrived in France on 4th October 1915. This qualified him for a 1914-1915 Star in addition to his British War Medal and Victory Medal.
His mother acknowledged receipt of the medals in 1921.
William Hamecher's Medal Index Card
William Hamecher's inscription on the Loos Memorial
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