Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Archer born at Quebec, County Durham was the only son of John James Archer of Wrekenton, near Gateshead, County Durham, born 1867 and Mary Hannah Ferguson born 1869 at Lambton, County Durham, whom he married in the district of Durham in 1889. They settled at 3, Syke Row, Esh where John was a coal miner and William was born in 1893. By 1901 they had moved to 19, Oliver Street and had also taken into their home, niece, Margaret Ann Evans (18) and boarder, 45-year-old coal hewer, William Taylor of Whitworth, however, they occupied a residence of 3 rooms at 9. Clifford Street, Quebec by 1911. Employed at Hamsteels Colliery John James and William Taylor were coal hewers and had been joined by William (18) employed as a putter.
William had enlisted as a Territorial, May 17th 1911 for 3 years. He left his employment at the colliery August 4th 1914 and was embodied at Hamsteels, assigned as Private 1687 to the 1/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry of the Territorial Force. The new volunteer recruits were split into 4 groups and trained at Boldon, Ravensworth and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Private Archer having completed his training was mobilised and departed with his regiment from Newcastle railway station, as part of the British Expeditionary Force he sailed from Southampton, April 18th 1915 landing at Le Havre the following day, joining his regiment within days in the field on the Ypres salient in Belgian. The regiment was engaged in fierce fighting during the Second Battle of Ypres, subjected to heavy shelling and gas attacks on the Gravenstafel Ridge. Reported as missing between June 25th and 26th his next of kin were informed. After extensive investigations as to his whereabouts, October 25th 1915, news was received that Private Archer was amongst the fallen in action, June 26th 1915 and had been buried by the Germans near Verlorenhoek, he was struck off and his family received confirmation that this evidence was deemed to be sufficient to consider their son was dead.
After the Armistice it proved impossible to retrieve the remains of Private 1687 William Archer Durham Light Infantry, his sacrifice is recorded as one of the 54,395 names inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres, Belgium, commemorating Commonwealth troops killed on the Ypres salient, before August 15th 1917, whose bodies have never been found or who have no known grave. William was 21 years of age and single.
His father received all monies due to him and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at 9, Clifford Street, Quebec, County Durham.
Details as regards the demise of William’s parents are unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Archer is remembered at Quebec on Q2.05
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 163 and in the Battalion History page 238
