William Myers Houseman was aged 19 years and 8 months when he was instructed to attend a medical
examination at York for entry to the Military service on the 18 March. 1918.

A medical examination took place that recorded him as standing 5’ 53/4“  tall and having a chest
measurement of 341/2 inches and weighed 124 pounds. He was found fit for service.

William was employed as a blacksmith at the time of his enlistment. His address is given as Ash Grove
House, Dacre, Yorkshire.

He was single, and gave as his next of kin his mother William Houseman of Ashgrove House, Dacre,   
Yorkshire.

He signed the declaration on the attestation form, swore an oath and received the “King’s shilling”. He was
put in to reserve, this meant that he had signed up but was sent back to civilian employment until
he was called up.

He duly received notice and was  mobilised on 29 June 1918 and he was posted to the 3rd  Btn York &
Lancaster Regiment as Private 61364 on the 30 June.

On the 16 July 1918 he was attached to the 4th  Btn Queen's Royal West Surreys. On the 23 November
he arrived in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force with the 1/4th  Btn (Hallamshire) York &
Lancaster Regiment.

The Division and Brigades were not numbered until April 1915 previously just named. Arrived in France in
April 1915.  Served in France and Flanders until the Armistice.



On the 31 January 1919 he was  posted back to England and was discharged on the 21 February 1919.



As William was posted to France after the Armistice was signed it is very unlikely that he was involved in
any fighting. As I can not find a Medal Card for him I assume this to be the case as no medals would have
been awarded.

William Myers Houseman arrived at an interesting time, the 1/4th  Battalion were winding down
from war.
When he joined them, the Battalion were in Le Forest in France. They were carrying out three
days of ceremonial duties alternating with three days of salvage and education. The troops had
to collect all materials of war scattered over the countryside and put them in central dumps.

The Battalion CO insisted that all his troops had refresher courses in the 'three R's' and career
training ready for return to civilian life. At the end of November they moved to the neighbouring
village of Raimbeaucourt and things changed. The mornings were still spent in education and
salvage with little interest. However, the afternoon was spent exercising by football, running,
boxing and hockey. The Battalion had teams in every Brigade and Division competition and league.
Cinema, hare and hounds, and race meetings also added to the fun.

They also got better at ceremonial parades and march pasts. On the 26th February 1919 the life
of leisure ended as the Battalion were sent to Cologne (Köln) to join the Army of Occupation.


With Thanks to:
Karl A. Noble
Collections Officer - Museums, Galleries and Heritage Service Environment and Development Services
RMBC

The Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment

4/4th  Battalion
Formed at Croydon in July 1915.
8 April 1916 became 4th  (Reserve) Bn.

1st Battalion
August 1914 : in Jubbulpore in India. Returned to England 23 December 1914. Moved to Hursley Park and joined 83rd
Brigade in 28th Division.
17 January 1915 : landed at Le Havre.
Moved to Egypt in October 1915 and thence to Salonika, arriving in early December.

2nd Battalion
August 1914 : at Limerick. Part of 16th Brigade in 6th Division. Moved to Cambridge.
9 September 1914 : landed at St Nazaire.

3rd (Reserve) Battalion
August 1914 : at Pontefract. A depot/training unit, it moved on mobilisation to Cleadon and in January 1915 went on to
Sunderland. Moved in August 1915 to Durham but returned to Sunderland in February 1916 where it remained as part of
the Tyne Garrison.

1/4th (Hallamshire) Battalion
August 1914 : in Sheffield. Part of 3rd West Riding Brigade, West Riding Division. Moved on mobilisation to Doncaster.
Moved in November 1914 to Gainsborough, going on in February 1915 to York.
14 April 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
15 May 1915 : formation became 148th Brigade in 49th (West Riding) Division.

1/5th Battalion
August 1914 : in Rotherham. Record same as 1/4th Bn.

2/4th (Hallamshire) Battalion
Formed at Sheffield on 21 September 1914 as a second line unit. Moved in March 1915 to Bulwell and joined 187th Brigade
in 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division. Moved to Strenshall in April 1915, Beverley in May, Gateshead in November, Larkhill in
January 1916, Flixton Park (Bungay) in June and finally Wellingborough in October.
January 1917: landed at Le Havre.

2/5th Battalion
Formed at Rotherham on 3 October 1914 as a second line unit. Record same as 2/4th Bn.
3 February 1918 : disbanded in France.

3/4th and 3/5th Battalions
Formed at home bases in March 1915. Moved to Clipstone.
8 April 1916 : renamed 4th and 5th Reserve Bns.
1 September 1916 : 4th absorbed the 5th Bn. Moved to Rugeley in October 1917 and on 23 July 1918 went to Woodbridge,
finally moving to Southend on 19 October 1918.

6th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Pontefract in August 1914 as part of K1 and became part of 32nd Brigade in 11th (Northern) Division. Moved
initially to Grantham. Moved to Witley in April 1915.
3 July 1915 : sailed from Liverpool for Gallipoli, landing at Suvla Bay 6 August 1915.
Evacuated from Gallipoli December 1915, moved to Egypt via Imbros.
Moved to France in July 1916.

7th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers)
Formed at Pontefract in August 1914 as part of K2 and became part of 51st Brigade in 17th (Northern) Division. Moved to
Wareham.
March 1915 : converted into Pioneer Battalion for same Division. Moved to Hursley Park in May 1915.
14 July 1915 : landed at Boulogne.

8th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Pontefract in September 1914 as part of K3 and became part of 70th Brigade in 23rd Division. Moved to
Frensham, and on to Aldershot in November. Moved to Hythe in February 1915 and went on in May to Bordon.
27 August 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
18 October 1915: transferred with Brigade to 8th Division.
17 July 1916: returned with Brigade to 23rd Division.
November 1917: moved to Italy with 23rd Division.

9th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Pontefract in September 1914 as part of K3 and became part of 70th Brigade in 23rd Division. Record same as
8th Bn.

10th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Pontefract in September 1914 as part of K3 and became part of 63rd Brigade in 21st Division. Moved to Halton
Park, going on to Leighton Buzzard in December 1914 and then Tring in May 1915. Finally moved to Witley in August.
11 September 1915 : landed at Boulogne.
8 July 1916: transferred with Brigade to 37th Division.
4 February 1918 : disbanded in France.

11th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed in September 1914 as part of K3 and became part intended for 63rd Brigade in 21st Division but transferred to K4
and attached to 90th Brigade, original 33rd Division at Harrogate.
10 April 1915 : became a Reserve Battalion and moved soon afterwards to Otley. Moved on to Rugeley Camp
(Cannock Chase) in November 1915.
1 September 1916 : absorbed into Training Reserve Battalions of 2nd Reserve Brigade at Rugeley.

12th (Service) Battalion (Sheffield)
Often known by its original name of the Sheffield City Battalion.
Formed in Sheffield on 5 September 1914 by the Mayor and Town.
May 1915 : moved to Penkridge Camp (Cannock Chase) and attached to 94th Brigade in 31st Division. Went to Ripon in July
915 and on to Salisbury Plain in October.
December 1915 : moved to Egypt. Went on to France in March 1916.
17 February 1918 : disbanded in France.

13th (Service) Battalion (Barnsley)
Often known by its original name of the Barnsley Pals.
Formed in Barnsley on 17 September 1914 by the Mayor and Town. Moved to Silkstone in December 1914.
May 1915 : moved to Penkridge Camp (Cannock Chase) and attached to 94th Brigade in 31st Division. Went to Ripon in July
1915 and on to Salisbury Plain in October.
December 1915 : moved to Egypt. Went on to France in March 1916.

14th (Service) Battalion (Barnsley)
Often known by its original name of the 2nd Barnsley Pals.
Formed in Barnsley on 30 November 1914 by the Mayor and Town. Record same as 13th Bn.
16 February 1918 : disbanded in France.

15th (Reserve) Battalion
Formed at Silkstone in July 1915 from depot companies of 12th, 13th and 14th Bns. Moved to Brocton (Cannock Chase) in
November, on to Colsterdale in December. in July 1916, moved to Newsham, near Blyth.
1 September 1916 : converted into 91st Training Reserve Battalion in 21st Reserve Brigade at Blyth.

16th (Transport Workers) Battalion
Formed at Colsterdale in March 1916. Moved to Durham in December 1916 and then Catterick in November 1917 where it
then remained.

17th (Labour) Battalion
Formed at Brocklesby in July 1916. Moved to France that month and was attached to Lines of Communication. Became
30th and 31st Labour Companies of the Labour Corps in May 1917.

18th (Service) Battalion
Formed at Margate on 11 June 1918, absorbing the cadre of the 2/7th Bn, the West Yorkshire Regiment.
11 June 1918 : attached to 41st Brigade in 14th (Light) Division.
3 July 1918 : landed at Boulogne.

The area where William Myers Houseman spent his
time in France with the 1/4th  Bn York & Lancaster
Regiment during the winter of 1918 / 19