CORPORAL WILLIAM ROBERT HUSSEY: 3/7889
6th Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment.
William was one of sixteen children born to John and Rosina (Rose0 Hussey. Four died in infancy but the remaining twelve children lived with their parents at 3 Sunnyside, North Allington.
Willam and his brothers Francis and Henry were outnumbered by the girls – Elizabeth, Florence, Elsie, May, Phyllis, Margaret Maud Ethel and another Francis.
William’s father, John, was a coal merchant and William worked as a labourer at the time he left the family home to marry Florence, Sarah Hallett in 1903. They made their first married home in St Michael’s Lane, later moving on to live at 5 Dublin Passage, West Allington.
When war was declared William enlisted in Bridport, joining the newly raised 6th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment. After initial training in the area around Bovington he embarked for France, landing in Boulogne on July 14th 1915. With his Battalion he moved to the Southern Ypres Salient and went into the line in that area.
William survived the battles fought all along the salient until in October 1918 when he was engaged in Operations at the River Selle where British troops were driving the German army back from the HIndenberg Line. The action lasted from 9th – 24th October.
William was reported missing – presumed dead on October 11th. His body was not recovered.
He is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais.