Medal Index Card
Cement House Cemetery
William was born in 1892, at East Terrace Birtley, he was the second eldest boy of eleven children, with only seven children surviving, of John Bonney, [born at 2 Wash House, Birtley, January 1981, died 1935], and his wife Jane Lee, [born Dipton, 1865 died 1926]. They had married in 1884.
John Bonney's parents were Richard and Hannah Bonney from High Row in Birtley. John was one of 9 children.
William's siblings included Thomas, born 1895 East Terrace, Birtley in 1892, died 1917, Richard born 1887, died 1918, Margaret, born October 1897, James, born January 1903, died 1922, Ralph Winn, born 13th March 1904, died 1977, Annie, born 1886 and Jane born 1882 died 1898.
In 1901 the family had moved to 10 Nicholson Terrace, Beamish, Durham.
In 1911 they were all residing at 200, Ouston Square, Birtley.
William attested at Birtley, but enlisted at Larkhill in June 1916.
In 1915 William married Margaret Jane Gill, and they lived at 298, North Street Ouston, Pelton.
After the capture of Langemarck, the 11th Battalion, were involved in working on tramlines, cables, dumps. They were involved in a bitter three day desperate struggle to capture Eagle trench. The transport of materials across the Steenbrook was targeted by the German Shelling.
He left to his widow Margaret effects of £12 8s 8d.
Two of his brothers also served Thomas Bonney is buried at Moreuil Communal Cemetery Allied Extension, Richard Booney in Pelton cemetery.
The CWGC records show that William was originally listed as Unknown when re interred after the war apart from his regimental badges but a positive identification was made and he now has a recorded grave in Cement House Cemetery.
Acknowledgements: Steve Smith
William Bonney is remembered at Pelton on P26.01 and at Durham in D47.013cpage 254
