William's Story.
William Greenhalgh died of influenza and pneumonia on 8th December 1918. He is buried in Stockport Cemetery.
His various regimental numbers are as follows: 6th Btn Cheshire Regiment 2524, 10th Btn Lincolnshire Regiment 43648 and Labour Corps: 395649.
His various regimental numbers are as follows: 6th Btn Cheshire Regiment 2524, 10th Btn Lincolnshire Regiment 43648 and Labour Corps: 395649.
William was born in the summer of 1886, the only surviving son of Albert Greenhalgh, a hatter, and Ellen nee Turner (1865–1894). He was named after his grandfather, William Greenhalgh. In 1894 when he was eight years old, his mother died and in 1902 his father married Edith Annie Mace (1864–1949). William grew up at 22 Hempshaw Lane, Stockport, with his sister Nellie (1891 - ) and half-sisters Annie (1903–1980) and Frances (1906–1990). Like his afther, his civilian occupation was hatter.
He married Jane Hannah Lane (1890–1932) in 1912, and they had three daughters: Frances (1912–1999), Doris (1916–2001) and Hilda (1918–2013). His wife later had a fourth child Ada Greenhalgh, born in 1920, but she did not remarry. She died fourteen years after William, aged 42.
William enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regiment 10th Battalion, and his CWGC records show that he was later transferred to the Labour Corps (number 395649) 477th Agricultural Company. Other military records indicate that he had at some point been attached to the 6th Btn Cheshire Regiment, number 2524 but without his full military records it has not so far been possible to trace his history. Indicative army numbers for the Cheshire Regiment suggest that with his number 2524 he must have enlisted in early to mid September 1914. (6th Battalion number 1609 joined on the 25th February 1914 and number 2545 joined on the 29th September 1914).
William Greenhalgh's medal card shows his service in France, arriving there on 17th February 1915, with those same regimental numbers of the Cheshire battalion and the Labour Corps. However, his headstone records only the Lincolnshire Regiment.
William died on 8th December 1918 at Bourne in Lincolnshire, his wife Jane Hannah at his side. He was being cared for at a Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital, possibly attached to the Lincolnshire Regiment The VAD was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel.
His date of birth was the summer of 1886, and he died at the end of 1918, so his actual age must have been 32 ....
William was remembered by his parents and sisters on the 3rd anniversary of his death, in the Roll of Honour in the local newspaper.
His name is recorded on the Stockport War Memorial.
WORK IN PROGRESS ....
Research by Shena Lewington (October 2026)
He married Jane Hannah Lane (1890–1932) in 1912, and they had three daughters: Frances (1912–1999), Doris (1916–2001) and Hilda (1918–2013). His wife later had a fourth child Ada Greenhalgh, born in 1920, but she did not remarry. She died fourteen years after William, aged 42.
William enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regiment 10th Battalion, and his CWGC records show that he was later transferred to the Labour Corps (number 395649) 477th Agricultural Company. Other military records indicate that he had at some point been attached to the 6th Btn Cheshire Regiment, number 2524 but without his full military records it has not so far been possible to trace his history. Indicative army numbers for the Cheshire Regiment suggest that with his number 2524 he must have enlisted in early to mid September 1914. (6th Battalion number 1609 joined on the 25th February 1914 and number 2545 joined on the 29th September 1914).
William Greenhalgh's medal card shows his service in France, arriving there on 17th February 1915, with those same regimental numbers of the Cheshire battalion and the Labour Corps. However, his headstone records only the Lincolnshire Regiment.
William died on 8th December 1918 at Bourne in Lincolnshire, his wife Jane Hannah at his side. He was being cared for at a Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital, possibly attached to the Lincolnshire Regiment The VAD was a voluntary unit of civilians providing nursing care for military personnel.
His date of birth was the summer of 1886, and he died at the end of 1918, so his actual age must have been 32 ....
William was remembered by his parents and sisters on the 3rd anniversary of his death, in the Roll of Honour in the local newspaper.
His name is recorded on the Stockport War Memorial.
WORK IN PROGRESS ....
Research by Shena Lewington (October 2026)