WYNCOLL Clifford William
Rank: Shoeing Smith 98046
Royal Field Artillery "B" Battery 173rd Brigade
Date of death 3 November 1916 Age 18

Clifford was the son of Thomas and Emily Eliza Wyncoll of Church Cottage, Peldon. His father was a farm labourer. Clifford was christened at Saint Mary's Langenhoe on 12th June 1898. Subsequently the family moved to Peldon.

Clifford's brother Harold Thomas served in World War 1 in India. His sister Mabel Grace married the brother of Ernest Balls, who served with Clifford in the Royal Field Artillery. Mabel's son, Cyril was to be "Mentioned in Dispatches" for his bravery at Monastery Hill, Mandalay in Burma during World War 2. Cyril served for three years in India and Burma in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.

Clifford had four other brothers; Arthur, Edward, Ernest and Enos. Ernest served in the Essex Regiment in World War 2 and Arthur in the RAF, also in World War 2.

Clifford enlisted at Colchester and served for a year in France. He was assigned to the 173 Brigade RFA, who were part of the famous 36th (Ulster) Division. The regiments comprising the Division moved to England for training in July 1915. Although the Infantry Brigades moved over to France in early October 1915, the Divisional Artillery including Clifford's Brigade did not go until November 1915. His Battery had just been fighting in the Battle of Albert (the first phase of the Battle of the Somme) and been withdrawn for rest. During the battle the Division achieved its objectives near Thiepval but was forced to withdraw due to the failure of flanking units. Clifford was proceeding on leave to the UK and billeted in an old barn, when he was taken ill. He was taken to hospital but unfortunately died of pneumonia.

Clifford is on the right and his sister's brother-in-law, Ernest Balls on the left

With others in his Unit. Clifford is third from the right

He was awarded the Allied Victory Medal, the British War Medal and the 1914-15 Star for France as of the date he arrived in France of 28th November 1915

Clifford's grave in Saint Omer

Clifford is buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. He is commemorated on Peldon War Memorial in the Parish Church.

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery

February 2021 adapted for Museum website from Ted Sparrow's If You Shed a Tear Part 1 and his Memorial Profile. The original Memorial Profile is WYNCOLL Clifford William.pdf