Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Hedley was born in 1884 married Mary Jane Hill born 1889, both natives of Heworth, Gateshead, County Durham. They married at the parish church of St Mary Heworth, April 25th 1908, Mary gave birth to a son John James in 1909. In 1911 they were living at 53, Heworth Avenue, Pelaw-On-Tyne, William supported his family working as a coal miner/stone-man.
On the outbreak of war William Hedley enlisted at Gateshead, assigned as Private 89088 to the Royal Army Medical Corps. He departed to France during 1916 joining the 76th Field Ambulance in the field attached to the 25th Division. [The 76th Field Ambulance was transferred to the 9th Division in the relief of the South African Field Ambulance in 1918]. The Field Ambulance was a mobile front line unit, not a vehicle, manned by the R.A.M.C for the care of casualties and were up to 600 yards behind the Aid Posts in the front line ferrying casualties from the Advanced Dressing Station to the Main Dressing Station, assisting the walking wounded and forming stretcher bearer parties.
Unfortunately his military record no longer exists, one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, it is therefore impossible to know his exact movements, however the 25th Division during 1916 was involved in the attack at Vimy Ridge in May then withdrawn until the Battle of the Somme where they participated at The Battle of Albert, Bazentin, Pozieres and Ancre Heights. They spent 1917 in the Ploegstreet sector in Belgiun at the Battle of Messines until June 23rd.
Private 89088 William Hedley Royal Army Medical Corps was killed in action June 17th 1917 and was interred at Westhof Farm Cemetery, West Vlanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, grave II. B. 12. The cemetery was begun in May 1917 by the fighting units and the field ambulances. He was 33 years old.
His widow Mary Jane received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Hedley is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
