Trafford

Born during the March quarter 1896 in the Runcorn R.D. - ref: 8a/204, the
son of Thomas Edward & Mary Shepherd (nee Vickerson).

1901 Census - 14 Tweed Street, Sunderland, Durham.   Son - aged: 5 - born:
Warrington.    Head of household - Thomas Edward Shepherd - Married - aged:
31 - occ: Waterman - born: Whitstable, Kent.   Also - Mary Shepherd - Wife
- aged: 32 - born: Sunderland, Durham.    Plus 1 elder sister.

1911 Census - 11 Liverpool Road, Irlam.    Son - aged: 15 - occ: Wood Box
Maker at Soap Works - born: Stockton Heath, Lancashire.    Head of
household - Thomas Edward Shepherd - Married - aged: 44 - occ: Lockgate Man
(M S Canal Coy) - born: Whitstable, Kent.   Also - Mary Shepherd - Wife -
aged: 46 - born: Sunderland, Durham.    Plus 4 siblings.

I am most grateful to Neil Drum & Pete Thomas for allowing me to use
verbatim the following extract from their superb 623 page book "A District
at War - Irlam & Cadishead's Part in the Great War", an incredibly detailed
and comprehensive book that is not only a credit to them, but a magnificent
memorial to the WW1 men of that district.

Served with the 23rd (Service) Battalion (8th City), The Manchester
Regiment, 104th Brigade, 35th Division.   The 23rd Manchesters started out
as a Bantam Battalion.

His father was a lockgate keeper on the Manchester Ship Canal. William
resided at 11 Liverpool Road, Irlam and was employed at the CWS Soap Works.
 He enlisted at Manchester in late 1915 and went to France in 1916.  He was
wounded on the Somme and was admitted to No. 12 Military Hospital at La
Neuville on 25th July suffering from shrapnel wounds to his chest.   He
died two days later, on Thursday, 27th July 1916, without recovering
consciousness.    A letter from his subaltern stated that William was a
brave soldier who never flinched from doing his duty.   The inscription on
his headstone reads:  "Gone from us, but not forgotten - from his father,
mother & family".    Medal Entitlement: 15 Star Trio.