William Bingham was born in around 1891 in Fridsbury in Kent, the eldest son of Mary Ann and Harry, who was a cement labourer at the local cement works. His parents had thirteen children, of which by the time of the 1911 census, four had died and the family had moved to 169 Maxwell Road in Plumstead. Three of his siblings were still living at home in 1911, Edward (a baker’s boy), Phobe and Frank and his father was by then employed as a general labourer in the building trade. Reservist, William is recorded in the 1911 Census as being stationed at the Bulford Military Barracks in Wiltshire as an Army Reservist.
William married Edith Titcombe, the daughter of a police pensioner, on 22nd January 1912 at the parish church in Plumstead, when they were both 21 years old. They had two children. On his marriage certificate he stated his occupation as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery, although a newspaper article stated that he had been employed by the Port of London Authority and a Reserve, before being called up at the outbreak of war.
Corporal William Bingham served in the Royal Field Artillery (41st Bty, 42nd Bde) and died of wounds on 2nd May 1918 aged 27. He was buried at the Etaples Military Cemetery (LXVII.A.34).
An article from the Bexleyheath Observer dated 17th May 1918 records:
CORPORAL W. BINGHAM RFA
Mrs Bingham, of 19 Springfield Road Welling, has received the sad news that her husband, Corporal William Bingham, Royal Field Artillery, was wounded through both legs on April 21st and died in hospital on May 2nd
Corporal Bingham, who was 27 years of age, was on the Reserve and was employed by the Port of London authority, being called up at the outbreak of war.
Writing from the hospital in which he died, a nurse who tended him says: “I greatly regret to have to write the sad news of your husband’s death. I feel you will appreciate a line from one who nursed him. Everything was done for him that could be done from beginning to end. He was a fine patient, and without doubt one of our bravest boys who have done their duty in France. Cheery and smiling to the last, and anxious only that you should know he was cared for and comfortable. His last message was “Tell her I am all right, and my love to her and the children, and she is not to worry”…It will comfort you to know that he suffered very little, and his last hours passed very quietly, mostly in sleep”.
Corporal Bingham was last home on leave in January. Much sympathy is expressed to his widow and two children.
The area around the cemetery at Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915. 35 of these burials are unidentified..The cemetery, the largest Commission cemetery in France, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
His family are later recorded as living in Welling at 28 Springfield Road.
Commemorated
- East Wickham War Memorial
- East Wickham and Welling War Memorial
- East Wickham and Welling War Memorial Hall
- Welling War Memorial
Links
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to William Bingham, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.