On the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme is the name of 8782 Corporal William Pace serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps attached 39th Battery Royal Field Artillery who died 21/07/1916.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

William Pace born at Burnopfield, date unknown, married Ethel Charlton at Easington, County Durham in 1911.

During WW1 he enlisted at Newcastle upon Tyne and served with the Royal Army Medical Corps as Acting Corporal 8782 on the Western Front attached to the 39th Battery Royal Field Artillery, 15th Brigade, 4th Division. The Division was held back from the British Expeditionary Force at the beginning of hostilities and assigned to defend England against a possible German invasion. The casualties sustained by the B.E.F. in France and the lack of any attempt by the enemy to attack England changed that decision and in August they left for France. The Medical Corps followed the Division and Acting Corporal Pace would have assisted casualties during the Battle of the Marne, Battle of Aisne and the Battle of Messines in 1914. February 8th 1915 the 39th Battery transferred to the 19th Brigade and moved to Belgium for the 2nd Battle of Ypres. In 1916 they moved south to the Somme.

The now Corporal 8782 William Pace Royal Army Medical Corps was killed during the performance of his duty on the Somme, July 21st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 72,000 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, which commemorates servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa who died on the Somme 1916-1918 and have no known grave.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

William Pace is remembered at Heworth on H92.03, at Wardley on W97.01 and on the St John Ambulance memorial G39.030