Current Information:

Age-20

25, Hartville Road, Woolwich

Le Mans West Cemetery, France

The exact circumstances of the death of William Dell, who died from wounds on 1st October,  1914, are not known but artillery men faced many dangers and during the course of the war nearly 50,000 of them were killed. Their gun batteries were targeted by the enemy’s guns which accounted for many of their casualties. Others were sent forward to act as ‘spotters’ which meant going forward to the front line and signalling back to the guns necessary changes in target and other vital information. Keeping the batteries supplied with ammunition was a dangerous task as the enemy guns would target the known supply routes, especially at night. Brigade Diaries rarely shine any light on casualties sustained, unless of course they were officers and even then information is sparse.

The 48th Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery arrived in France at the beginning of the war as part of 3rd Division and saw action during all ther opening battles, including Mons, the Marne and the Aisne.