Pte William Charles Gage
14 PteWilliam Charles Gage
102506th Dragoons Inniskilling
Age: 33
Died: 08-Aug-18
Listed: Little Dunham War Memorial
Remembered: Vis En Artois Memorial
102506th Dragoons Inniskilling
Age: 33
Died: 08-Aug-18
Listed: Little Dunham War Memorial
Remembered: Vis En Artois Memorial
William was born in 1885 in Little Dunham, the son of William and Susan. They had two other sons who both served in World War 1, Smith and Robert.
In 1910 William was recorded as a farm worker but by 1911 he had become a baker. At this time he was still living at home on Necton Road, Little Dunham; also living/lodging there was Ada Green who, we are told, William became engaged to. William was one of the first local men to enlist, signing up in Norwich on the 28th August 1914, into the 6th Dragoon Guards, with whom he stayed almost for the duration of the conflict. The Battalion landed in France at the outbreak of the First World War as part of the 4th Cavalry Brigade in the 1st Cavalry Division on 16 August 1914 for service on the Western Front. It took part in the Battle of Mons in August 1914, the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914, the First Battle of Ypres in October 1914 and the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915 before going on to see further action at the Battle of the Somme in Autumn 1916, the Battle of Arras in April 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917. William landed in France on the 11th January 1915, so we can assume that his first action was in the 2nd Battle of Ypres. In 1918 they were involved in the Battle of Amiens and on the 8th August, which became known as the “Black Day for the German Army”. The Dragoons took part in a number of attacks on horseback near to Cayeux Wood on the Somme on this day. Although they had some success overall the attack was a disaster with mounted men being mown down by machine guns. It was during this action that William was killed, having been in France over 3 and a half years. His body was not found and he is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial near Arras. His two brothers survived the war. The Register of Soldiers Effects shows that he left his money and possessions to Ada, who he had intended to marry when the war was over. Biography written by Gordon Phillips |