Remembered

On This Day, 11 October 1916

William Robert McCann died of wounds on this day in 1916

William Robert McCann was born June 1897, Antrim, Ireland,the son of James and Jane McCann of ‘Fernagh', Whiteabbey, County Antrim.

At the 1901 Census, William aged 4, was with his parents, siblings and a lodger at 11 Lawterh Street, Duncairn War, Antrim. By the 1911 Census, he had another sister.

He went to the Western Front with the 1/7th Durham Light Infantry on 15 June 1916.

The 1/7th DLI fought on the Somme as pioneers to the 50th Division.

7Th Pioneer Battalion Durham Light Infantry — 7th Pioneer Battalion Durham Light Infantry parading for the trenches, Reninghelst, near Ypres, 29 April 1916. © IWM Q 537

On 4th October the Division was relieved by the 23rd, but the Battalion stayed in the line for another 11 days working on repairing the roads and railways around Martinpuich. On the 10th shelling become particularly intense. It appears likely that William was wounded at this time and taken out of the line.

Contay British Cemetery By Werner VC (CA BY SA 3.0) (1) — Bazentin-Le-Petit Communal Cemetery Extension

William is buried at Bazentin-le-Petit Communal Cemetery Extension. He was 19 years old.

2nd Lt. William Robert McCann, 7th Bn, Durham Light Infantry

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Charles Edward Reynolds was killed in action on this day in 1918

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31 October 1916