Private William Hankin

Rank or Title

Date of Birth

1890

Date of Death

3 May 1917

War time / or Pre War occupation

Printer

Employer

Manningham, of Bradford, Yorks

Service Number

307038

Place of Birth

Dunstable
United Kingdom

World War I Address

64 Ivy Road
Luton
United Kingdom

Place of Death

France

Grave Location

H.A.C. Cemetery
Ecoust-St Mein
France

War Memorial Location

Soldier or Civilian

  • Soldier

Source

The Luton News , 24th May 1917
Pte William Hankin

Pte William Hankin, 307038, 2/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), was killed in action in France on May 3rd, 1917. Older brother, Alfred (Beds Regiment), had died from wounds in France on October 30th, 1914.

Dunstable-born William had enlisted in the West Riding Regiment in March 1916 and went to France the following January. Parents Alfred and Alberta Hankin had moved from Dunstable and were living at 64 Ivy Road, Luton.

A letter to Mr and Mrs Hankin from L-Cpl J. Gledhill said: "I cannot say for certain how your son was killed, although he was the last person in my platoon I saw, but it was most probably a shell. I was missing for five days, and the man who saw him has since been killed himself. He was decently buried when we went up the line a week after we went over the top. There was no chance of doing it sooner."

William had served a six-year apprenticeship with printers Marshall, Brooks and Chalkley, of Frederic Street, Luton. He then worked for the Manningham printing firm at Bradford, Yorkshire, where he enlisted.

Individual Location

Pte William Hankin

Author: Deejaya

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