William Gardiner

It has not yet been possible to positively identify the family of this man whose surname is spelled 'Gardiner' on both the war memorials but appears as 'Gardner' and 'Gardener' in his military records. There are several Williams Gardiner/Gardner/Gardeners with Worfield connections.

William stated that he had been born in Bridgnorth. At the time of his enlistment he lived at Hilton in the Parish of Worfield.

Private W Gardiner, 22021, served with the 1st Battalion, King's Shropshire Light infantry, and was killed in action on 30th November, 1917. He is buried in Sunken Road Cemetery, Villers-Plouich. The Battalion History states that:

On the 30th a heavy enemy counter-attack was launched on the whole of the Third Army front. Gouzeaucourt was lost and retaken, and the 16th Brigade [of which 1st KSLI was part] took up a position on the road between Gouzeaucourt and Villers. On the night of the 30th an attempt was made to gain the high ground between Gonnelieu and La Vacquerie. The battalion advanced, but was checked by heavy machine-gun fire from Gonnelieu on the line of the railway between Villers Plouich and Gouzeaucourt. The 2nd York and Lancs, on the right, and the Buffs, on the left, were similarly held up. Both flanks being now in the air, the battalion was forced to fall back on its original line. At 6.30 a.m. the Guards, with the assistance of tanks, succeeded in reaching the high ground and capturing half of the village of Gonnelieu.

Private William Gardiner, KSLI, 22021, was awarded the Victory and British medals.