Private William Hankin
Rank or Title
Date of Birth
1890
Date of Death
3 May 1917
War time / or Pre War occupation
Employer
Regiment
Service Number
Place of Birth
World War I Address
Place of Death
Grave Location
War Memorial Location
Soldier or Civilian
- Soldier
Source
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
Author: Deejaya
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