Biography of Sapper William Leonard Randall (169322)
69th Field Coy.,  Royal Engineers
Died 28th September 1917

Soldier

  • Name: William Leonard Randall
  • Date of birth: 1895
  • Place of Birth: Freiston, Lincolnshire, England
  • Date of Birth Registration: July – September 1895
  • Place of Birth Registration: Boston, Lincolnshire, England
Father

  • Name: Charles Randall
  • DOB: 1866
  • Place of Birth: Freiston, Lincolnshire, England
  • Occupation: Carpenter
Mother

  • Name: Lydia Mary Knipe
  • DOB: 1869
  • Place Of Birth: Thurlby, Lincolnshire, England
  • Marriage: 1887 Bourne District

Siblings: (Name), (DOB), (POB)

  • Charles Henry Randall, 1890, Darnall, Sheffield
  • Ethel L Randall, 1893, Freiston
  • Maud Eveline Randall, 1894, Freiston
  • William Leonard Randall, 1895, Freiston
  • James Randall, 1896, Freiston
  • Anthony Randall, 1899, Freiston
  • Lizzie Mary Randall, 1902, Thurlby
  • Lucy May Randall, 1905, Thurlby
  • Plus 1 more whose name are unknown taken from the 1911 census
Census

  • 1901: William is living with his parents at Thurlby, Lincolnshire
  • 1911: William is living with his parents in Thurlby, Lincolnshire. The census gives him an age of 15 and he is listed as at home assisting father.

Relatives in services

  • William’s brother Charles Henry also fought and were killed in WW1. Charles can be found on our page dedicated to the Thurlby War Memorial.
Marriage

  • No marriage for William has been found and because of his age we can assume that he never had the opportunity to marry.

Newspaper Mentions

  • Lincolnshire Echo Thursday 25th October 1917
    OFFICIAL LOCAL CASALTIES
    KILLED
    ROYAL ENGINEERS
    Randall, 169322 Sapper W. (Bourne)

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 27th October 1917
    Other Regiments.
    Killed:- Shewoods, Stevenson 4525 S.H. (Grantham); R.H.A., Dexter 52877 Bdr. S. (Uppingham); R.E.’s, Randall 169322 Spr. W. (Bourne).

 

  • War Office Weekly Casualty List October 30th 1917
    WARRANT OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND MEN.
    KILLED
    ROYAL ENGINEERS.
    Randall 169322 Spr. W. (Bourne)

 

  • Grantham Journal Saturday 11th May 1918
    THURLBY
    WAR Notes.- Mr. and Mrs. Day have received a letter from the Sister-in charge of a Casualty Clearing Station, dated May 3rd, informing them that their son Robert, R.F.A., has been admitted suffering from a very severe wound in the knee, and little hopes are held out that the leg will be saved.  Their son has served 17 years with the colours, and was called up on Aug. 4th, 1914.  He has been in many great battles since.  He was home last year, looking fit and weil, and had every confidence that he would pull through.  Mr. and Mrs. Randall have had official news that their second son (Royal Engineers) is posted as missing since April 6th.  They lost thrie other son about a year ago, and great sympathy is expressed towards them.  He was to have come home in May, having been recommended for a commission.

Military Records

Attestation Papers

  • None found
Soldier’s Died In The Great War

  • These records show that Sapper William Randall, 169322, 69th Field Coy, Royal Engineers was killed in action on 28th September 1917 in the Western European Theatre in France and Flanders.

Pension Records

  • Available

Effects Left To

  • Father Charles

Medals

  • The British Medal
  • The Victory Medal

Memorials

  • UK:
  • Thurlby, Roll of Honour in St Firmin’s Church

 

  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
  • In memory of Sapper William Leonard Randall, 169322, 69th Field Coy, Royal Engineers who died on 28 September 1917
  • Remembered with honour, Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-Le-Preux.
  • Grave I. N. 3.

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

© Picture taken by South Lincolnshire War Memorials

Military Service Timeline

  • This is ongoing research and will be posted when completed

Sources

  • WW1 Soldier’s Records (www.ancestry.co.uk)
  • British Newspaper Archive.
  • Fold 3
  • Find My Past
  • Genealogist
  • Forces War Records
  • British Army Service Numbers
  • War Gratuity Calculator
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission
  • National Archives – Battalion War Diaries
  • General Registry Office

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