23 January 1915 : Cpl. William Gore

William Gore was born in Ormskirk, 11 September1880

Location of Ormskirk, Lancashire in the north west of England (cc OpenStreetMap)

He was the son of the William Gore (a coachman) and his wife Ellen (née Owen). 

At the 1881 census a six month old William lived in Bickerstaff. His older siblings were Elizabeth (age 19, a general servant), James (age 13, under gardener), Mary (age 12 ‘employed at home'), Jane, Thomas, Sarah and Annie and there somehow was a further young sister Agnes (0). 

At the 1891 census, his mother widowed, there were seven children at home: Elizabeth, James (gardener), Jane (dressmaker), Thomas (engine cleaner), Annie, William and Agnes. 

7 Brereton Avenue, Wavetree (Image capture September 2012) c Google Street View 2022

At the 1901, his mother (now 72) was at home with just two adult children, William (32) a barman and Agnes (a schoolteacher). They lived in the seven roomed house, 7 Brereton Avenue, Wavetree.

William was educated at St. Wilfrid's, Oakmoor. He enlisted, shortly after his 20th birthday, 22 September 1900.

In 1911, William was living in Barbados. 

On 4 January 1914, in Liverpool, he married Amy Grace (née Taylor). 

He went to France in 1914; returned and afterwards transferred to the 2nd Life Guards; went to France again 5 Oct. 1914 and was invalided home and returned to the front on 22 May, 1915.

Bethune Town Cemetery (c) CWGC 2022

He died of wounds received at Bethune 23 Jan 1916 and was buried in Bethune Town Cemetery

Cpl. William Gore  of Horse (2nd Empress of India’s Lancers)

Sources: Du Ruvigny’s; UK Army, Register of Soldiers’ Effects; The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911; Find a Grave Index.