William Hoggard was killed on this day in 1915.
William was born in September 1882, Beverley, East Yorkshire. His parents were William (a farm labourer) and Susannah (née Newlove) and they lived at 172 Ryecroft Street, Crowthorn, Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire.
William was the last of the Hoggard children. His older siblings were Henry, Jane and Fanny. Their mother died in 1892 when William was only three years old.
William attended Trafalgar Day School, or 'Stringer’s School’ and was reportedly 'one of the best pupils Captain Ralph Lees has ever turned out'. After leaving school he worked locally at the Planet Iron Foundry.
Hoggard served in the Boer War and was the possessor of the South African Medal with four bars. On his time of service expiring he joined the reserves.
He married 25 year old Hannah Heppenstall on the 14 August 1914, days after war broke out - this was because William had been called up from the army reserve and was expecting to be heading to the front imminently.
William was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for bringing a wounded captain in under fire. Details were published in Ashton Under Lyne Reporter on 12 December 1914
How Corporal William Hoggard won the D.C.M.
“We were at a place called …. When the order came for our company, C, to retire to a better position, and he and four men were told to hold the enemy at bay while we do so. The bullets were buzing around galore. I think we lost 91 men that day. They managed to keep them back, and on returning to join us Corporal Hoggard saw his captain lying wounded on the field. Nobody had seen him fall when the others retired, he took his field dressing from his pocket and bandaged the officer as best he could, Then picking him up, he carried him to a place of safety.
This act was rewarded by his Majesty the King on Wednesday, December 2nd, when he inspected us. The Prince of Wales also gave him a little present. We were all lined up, and the King came along and stopped in front of Hoggard and, after pinning the medal on his breast, chatted with him for a minute or two. Then, shaking hands with him his Majesty passed down the ranks, and was greeted with the cheers of the King’s Own singing after him.”
Just a few weeks after this act of heroism, William was killed in action.
He is buried in Tancrez Farm Military Cemetery, Comines-Warneton, Arrondissement de Mouscron, Hainaut, Belgium
Acting Sergeant. William Hoggard 6672 King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) 1st Battalion
Killed in Action La Bassee
France 7 January 1915
Research by Jonathan Vernon
Sources: On This Day; Lives of the First World War; UK, World War 1 Service Medals and Awards Roll; UK Soldiers Died in the Great War; Global Find a Grave Index; UK Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects; England & Wales Civil Registration of Marriages.
Photograph of William's father and stepmother was originally shared to Ancestry Public Family Tree by 'juliefosternet'.