William's Story.
William Joseph Minnis was born in 1896 in Chiswick, Middlesex to parents John, a boiler maker, and Sarah. His parents were both born in Liverpool so probably they were in Chiswick due to John’s work. By 1901 the family had moved to Birkenhead and lived at 6, Cardigan Street and were still at the same address in 1911. By then William had two brothers and three sisters.After leaving school William became an apprentice at Cammell Laird shipbuilders. He signed up for war service the First World War and enlisted in the 4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. In May 1915 he was stationed with his battalion in Bedford.
On the 21st May 1915 William’s body was found in a pond in the village of Renhold, just outside Bedford, ten days after he went missing. The inquest into his death gave more details into the circumstances – On 10th May, William, who at that time was a groom to an officer, was sent to exercise a Canadian thoroughbred horse but was not seen again until his body was found in a pond near the village. The horse was also discovered dead at the other end of the pond which contained three feet of water and several feet of mud. William was found to have a fractured spine and probably rolled into the water.
He was described as an ‘expert horseman’ but the horse had been a bit ‘tricky’. The verdict of accidental death was recorded.
Private William Minnis’ body was brought back to Birkenhead and buried in Flaybrick Cemetery on the 25th May 1915.
William's grave in Flaybrick Cemetery, Birkenhead
Research, William's photograph and grave photograph by Chris Booth