William Allchin (also spelled as Alchin in some documents) was born in 1897 in Peckham, to parents John and Agnes, and spent his pre-war life living in both India and England. His father was an ammunition engineer and worked at the Ammunition Factory in Kirkee in Bombay. The family moved between India and England, and William’s older sister, Amy, was born in India and his younger sister, Mabel was born in Plumstead. William also had a younger brother, Frank, and younger sister, Edie. Whilst in Plumstead they lived at 17 Bastion Road where his aunt continued to live during the war
William joined up at Mill Hill in south west London on 8th April 1915 and declared his age as 19, although it appears he was just 17. He declared prior experience of service as having volunteered with the Poona Volunteer Rifles, which was near to the ammunitions factory in India, where his father worked. His medical records state that he was 5ft 5¼” tall, 9 stone 1lb, had a 34” girth and a scar on his right forearm from birth. He gave his profession as a mill hand.
Private William Alchin (G/9765) of C Company 4th London/Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge’s Own) was killed in action 9 months after joining up on 26th January 1916, aged just 19. In his will he left everything to his father and, in the event of his father’s death, to his mother, who were both living in India at the time. His relative Mrs E Potter, probably his sister Edie, was living at 13 High Street and he was added to the East Wickham War Memorial in 1921.
William is buried at the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, in France. (IX.E.49) Armentieres was one of the most bitterly fought-over towns in the Great War. It was occupied by the British 4th Division in October 1914, and remained within the Allied lines until its evacuation ahead of the German advance in April 1918 after a prolonged and heavy bombardment with gas shell. It was occupied by the Germans the following day, and not recovered by the allies until October 1918.
The cemetery was established in October 1914 and continued to be used by field ambulance and fighting units until April 1918, when the Germans also used it for their burials where over 500 graves remain, along with 2132 British and Commonwealth burials.
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