15624 Private
1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division
Age: 18
Date of Death: 5.5.15 DoW
Buried: La Clytte Military Cemetery I.C.9
Family history: The son of Son of John & Helen Rice, 11 Melville Street, Falkirk.
The action that lead to his death
The battalion was in the line at St Eloi sector. On 4 May all ranks had been issued with gas respirators. The Germans had opened the Second Battle of Ypres with a gas attack on 22 April in the northern Salient at Langemark. On 5 May the War diary recorded that Hill 60 had been rushed after a gas attack by the Germans and lost. Battalion casualties in their sector on 5 May were from rifle grenades and shells known as whizz bangs. The battalion had one officer wounded and twelve other ranks wounded. William died of his wounds at the Casualty Clearing Station at La Clytte.
Medals Awarded:
1915 Star, The British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Comments