Private William John James Skinner
| Date of Birth | c.1897 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 20 |
| Date of Death | 9 April 1917 |
| Service Number | G/559 |
| Military Service | 6th Battalion Buffs (East Kent) Regiment |
| Merton Address | 2 Manor Road |
| Local Memorial | St. Mark's Church, Mitcham |
Additional Information
William was the eldest son of Ernest and Elizabeth Skinner. He was born in Mitcham and baptised in the Parish Church of SS Peter and Paul on 13 March 1898. He has four younger siblings, Nina, Joseph, James and Harry.
At the time of his baptism, the family were living at 26 Smiths Buildings but by the 1901 census they were at 2 Rupert Terrace, London Road, Mitcham and sharing their home with the Haggar family – Mary, Alice, Lily and Nellie and Annie Saunders. 2 Manor Road Mitcham became their home by 1911 and by then it was just the Skinners living there. William was 14 and a farm labourer.
William joined up at Sittingbourne in Kent and became a Private in the 6th Battalion of the Buffs (East Kent) Regiment. He was possibly known as James in the Army as some of his records list him as James William Skinner.
William was wounded several times and authorised to wear a “Wound Stripe” in October 1915, September 1916 and again in November 1916. On 22 May 1917 he was mentioned in Despatches and his name listed in the Gazette number 30086 page 5025.
William was killed in action of 9 April 1917. He is buried in the Feuchy Chapel British cemetery at Wancourt and is commemorated in St Mark’s Church, Mitcham. His father had died by then and his pension was paid to his mother.