Private William Joseph Hill (4383)

In June 1917, the Malvern News reported: “The relatives of Pte W Hill 8th Worcesters have received communication from the front stating he was killed on the 3rd June while on sentry duty. He was struck in the head by shrapnel and died immediately. Pte Hill, 21, lived at Woburn Cottage, Malvern Link and prior to enlistment was a gardener. He joined the colours about six months ago and had been out about three weeks. He had only been in the trenches for three days. His mother, a widow has been ill and was away from home when the news reached her.”

Indeed, the 2/8th Worcesters went into the trenches for the first time on the 1st June. They were attached to battalions of the 105th Brigade for trench warfare instruction at Neuve Chapelle, the place were the 1st Worcesters took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle ^[1] and suffered so many casualties. This period only lasted until the 10th, but the unit had suffered its first casualties – Pte Hill and Pte Thomas Price of Evesham, killed on the 4th June.