William Edward LISTER

18/1300, Private. b. 1894, Bradford d. Sat. 1st July 1916 (aged 22).

William’s fate can be clearly seen by his serial number and date of death: again, he was another of the luckless Pals who suffered so greatly for their King and country. He belonged to the 2nd Bradford Pals, and he and his fellow Pals had the misfortune to know the fate about to befall them as the 18th West Yorkshire’s were set to advance about thirty minutes after the 16th battalion at 8.20am. By the time they reached the front trench before no-man’s land, the full and immense scale of the tragedy would have been on view to them all. As well as having to contend with what they knew to be virtual suicide, the German forces had begun to retaliate with what one observer described to be “…an intense bombardment on our front line and support trenches…Cannister bombs, high explosives and shrapnel catching all men as they reached the support line. This curtain of fire was extended to our support trenches.” (extract taken from Hudson’s ‘Bradford Pals’)

These were to be conditions that the 2nd Pals had to make their way through, as well as trying to pass over the wounded and shattered forms that once comprised the 1st Bradford Pals and the 1st Leeds Pals. Needless to say, not one man on that morning from either of the Bradford Pals battalion was branded with the label of being a coward, as every single soldier did his duty and his best to reach the German trenches.

William was the son of Albert and Nelly Walton Lister, and at the time of his enlistment had lived at 69, Stanacre Road (near Wapping Road, BD3).

He is buried at Serre Road Cemetery No. 1, Serre, Pas De Calais, France.