Rifleman 2262 William Ernest Mather

The St Helens Reporter
Courtesy Ste M

Regiment/Unit: South Lancashire Regiment - 1st/5th Bn.
Theatre of War: France & Flanders
Theatre of War First Served: (1) France
Date Entered Therein: 13/02/1915

Age at death: 36
Date of death: 21st of February 1915 (Sunday)
Born: St Helens, Lancs
Resided: St Helens, Lancs
Burial / Memorial: Calvaire Essex Military Cemetery - I. H. 5.

BMD details:
Marriage: 16/07/1904 William E MATHER to Ada PICKAVANCE at Eccleston St Thomas.

Census details:
1881 - 2 years old William E is living at 83 Westfield Street, St Helens with parents Charles (23) and Elizabeth (24). They are staying at the home of relatives John Clarkson (64), Elizabeth Clarkson (63), Ann Clarkson (43). 1891 - 12 years old schoolboy William E is living at 85 Westfield Street, St Helens with parents Charles (33), Elizabeth (34) and two siblings: Catherine C (9), Ada (4). Also at the address is Charles's mother-in-law Elizabeth Jackson (73) and sister-in-law Ann Clarkeson (50). 1901 - 22 years old 'General Labourer' William E is living at 85 Westfield Street, St Helens with widowed mother Elizabeth (44) and two siblings: Catherine C (19), Charles (8). Staying at the address is Elizabeth's sister - Ann Clarkson (62). 1911 - Sees 32 years old 'General Labourer' William E living at 44 Pigott Street, St Helens with wife Ada (27) and three children: Evelyn (6), William Ernest (4), Herbert (10 mths).

Notes:
[url=lmem.php?lmem=12]Remembered On the Ormskirk Street Memorial, St Helens.[/url] Age taken from census.

Rfn Mather was the first member of the 1/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment, to be killed after their arrival in France 8 days earlier. The War Diary for the period states:- 18th February 1915 "C" Coy under Capt. TAYLOR went into trenches with Lancashire Fusiliers for four days instruction 20th February 1915 "A" Coy (less one platoon) under Capt. PILKINGTON & "B" Coy under Captain NASH attached to 2nd Monmouth Regt for four days trench duty 21st February 1915 2 rifleman killed, 3 wounded [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/WEMatherSLR1.jpg[/pic] [pic]imgs/WW1_misc/WEMatherSLR2.jpg[/pic][caption]The St Helens Reporter - Courtesy Ste M[/caption] [center][pic2]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Echo19150305_zps65711834.png[/pic2][/center][caption]Liverpool Echo 05/03/1915.[/caption] [pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/W_E_Mather_SLR_zpseb1fb998.jpg[/pic][caption]The headstone of Rifleman William Ernest Mather at Calvaire (Essex) Military Cemetery (Photo courtesy of Frederik Sohier)[/caption]