William Gidley 1893 - 1916

William Gidley was a Sergeant in the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, 9th Service Battalion. He was killed in action on July 7, 1916, just six days after Richard Gidley in the previous post, also at the Battle of the Somme.
William was the son of Herbert Gidley and his wife Alice Maud Mary Anne, nee Collinson. He was born in Bradford on October 24, 1893, the second oldest of eight children. Herbert Gidley, his father, was a bookkeeper at a textile factory in Halifax in 1901, and in 1911 a clerk, at a cotton and wool dyer's. William in 1911 was a labourer, possibly at the same dyer's, living at home at 4 Godley Road in Halifax. They were part of the Gidley branch which could trace its roots back to Dean Prior in Devon.
William was also a volunteer and landed at Boulogne in July 1915. He was awarded the 15 Star, the Victory and the British medals. He also has no known grave, and is commemorated at Thiepval.
Sadly, his older brother Harold was killed nine months later.