William Haram was born on the 23rd January 1882, at 29 Waugh Street, Gateshead, the eldest boy of five children to William Haram, [born the 3rd January 1857 at Newbald, baptised 19th April in the Parish Church of St Nicholas], and his wife Frances [nee Bell], born 1861, West Boldon, died January 1923. They were married on the 6th December 1880. The other children were Albert Edward, born 18th August 1884, Ellen Haram, born 9th September 1889, married a John Albert Gault, [born 2nd March 1896], on the 8th April 1922, [their son Colin Gault, was a wing commander in WW2], Frederick, born 13th September 1894, was a Gas meter reader, married a Barbara Watson, [born 25th June 1897 Whitehills, Banffshire], on the 14th September 1918. She died 3rd April 1975. [In 1939 they were residing at 7 Rayleigh Grove, Gateshead, with two children William Alexander Watson Haram, born 27th October 1923, died 31st October 2003, who was an Office Messenger and George W. Haram, born 1st December 1918, an Apprentice Metal (Iron) Moulder, who was in the RNVR as an Able Seaman], Frederick was also a Warden in the Gateshead ARP.

Florence born 22nd October 1901, married Peter Allan Charlton [born 31st August 1894], in 1933. [In 1939 they were residing at 17 Hilda Terrace, Newburn, Northumberland, with two children, Peter was a Deal Garment Part & Retired Collecting Assistant for Newcastle Urban District Council].

Willian Haram (senior), was born at Mount Pleasant, North Newbald, Beverley, to Thomas Haram, [born 1827, a agricultural Labourer], and Mary Jane [nee Tomlinson], Haram, [born 1834], one of five children, he was employed by the North Eastern railway as a porter, before eventually became a Passenger Guard, prior to this in 1871 he was a domestic servant. He joined the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants on the 5th February 1897 then based at Newcastle Central.

In 1881 William (Senior), and his wife were residing at 29 Waugh Street, Gateshead, by 1891 with William, Albert Edward and Ellen they were residing at 68 Fourth Street, Gateshead. By 1901, with the addition of Frederick the youngest boy, they are all residing at 85 Third Street, Gateshead. Albert is a wood broker, William junior is a postman. William senior died on the 8th February 1937, [his residence address by then was 12 Grasmere Terrace, Washington Station], and was buried on the 13th February in Saltwell Cemetery. He left effects of £191 7s 10d to Fred Haram Gas company inspector.

William and Frances in 1911 were residing at 6 Ross Terrace, Gateshead with William (junior), Ellen, Frederick and Florence.

William Haram, junior, married a Mary Ethel Robertson, born in Stockton on the 3rd November 1879, in 1910, William was a postman, Mary Ethel was a nurse.

William attested into 'B' Company 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment service number 50632, round about May 1916.

The following is an extract from the History of the West Yorkshire Regiment.

The first battles of the Somme, 1918 The Battle of St. Quentin, 21st—23rd March

The great German offensive of 21st March opened with the Battle of St. Quentin the West Yorkshire Regiment in France and Flanders consisted of twelve battalions. The 1st Battalion (6th Division) held front- line trenches in the Morchies sector, the 2nd Battalion (8th Division) was out of the line at Wizernes, near Ypres; the 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/7th (49th Division) were in the Zonnebeke sector, east of Ypres; the 8th, 2/5th and 2/7th (62nd Division) were north of the Scarpe at Arleux; the gth (11th Division) in the front line east of Mazingarbe (Loos sector); the 10th (47th Division) north of Havrincourt, holding front-line trenches in the Flesquiéres Salient; the 15th/17th (31st Division) were at Chaucourt in training, and the 21st (Pioneers) were billeted in Arras, their Division—the 4th—holding the line east of the town. The 11th West Yorkshires, with the 23rd Division, had gone to Italy. Thus it will be seen that when the storm broke on 21st March only two battalions, the 1st and the 10th, were actually in the zone of the enemy’s first onslaughts.

William was captured on the 21st March near Lebnicourt and was interned at Munster POW Camp. There were four camps: Münster I was outside the city in open farming country, Münster II was at the racecourse, Münster III was a former Army barracks, and Münster IV was reserved for Russian prisoners. William was at Munster II.

His residence address was given as 93 Fairholme Road, Benwell Grove, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was discharged as a Class 'Z' reserve on the 19th February 1919.

After the war he returned to reside at 93 Fairholme Road, until moving to 30 Denhill Park.

In 1939, they were residing at 30 Denhill Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with their son William born 4th October 1911 who was a Newsagent's Manager.

William Haram died in 1958.

International Red Cross list of POW camps
The West Yorkshire Regiment in the War 1914-1918: Volume II (1928) by Everard Wyrall