William was born in Deptford on 12th April 1890, to parents William, listed as a general labourer in the 1891 census, and as a plate layer for South Eastern Railways in that of 1901, and Harriet Elizabeth. He was the second of 7 children, born between 1889 and 1906, and was Baptised at St Mark’s Church, Deptford on 1st June 1890. At the time of the 1891 census, the family were living at 6 Arthur Road, Deptford, but by 1893, when William, together with his sister Lilian, was enrolled at Grove Street School, in the London Borough of Lewisham they had moved to 51 Gosterwood Street. They remained at Grove Street School from their enrolment on 16th October until they were ‘removed’ on the 28th February 1896, and on 11th August 1896, William, together with his brother Charles was enrolled at Foster’s school, giving their address as 2 Albert Grove, West Welling. Charles was withdrawn from Fosters on 10th September 1896, with the note ‘too young’, although he was listed as having been at Grove Street School for a ‘few months’. He was re-enrolled later, and siblings Harry, Frederick and Arthur Ernest (who enlisted with the 46th training reserve battalion at Woolwich in March 1917, agreeing to allot 6d or 2½ pence per day to his mother) also attended the school.
The family were still living at 2 Albert Grove at the time of the 1911 census, when William was described as a wharf labourer, though an article in The Observer, dated 16th July 1916 stated he had worked at Woolwich Arsenal.
William enlisted at Woolwich, on 9th November 1915, with the Royal Garrison Artillery, 9th Siege Battery, part of the 2nd Division which was one of the first British formations to move to France, arriving on 21st April 1915. Once there were enough of them to require a higher organisation, the Heavy batteries were organised into Heavy Artillery Brigades. Siege Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells high into the air. The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. The 2nd division was involved in most of the major actions, including;
1914 The Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, including the the Affair of Landrecies, the Rearguard affair of Le Grand Fayt and the Rearguard actions of Villers-Cotterets, The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne including participation in the Actions on the Aisne heights, First Battle of Ypres
1915 Winter Operations 1914-15 , The Battle of Festubert, The Battle of Loos
1916 The Battle of Delville Wood (part of the Battle of the Somme, which opened on 14th/15th July)
William was killed in action on 13th July 1916, and his parents were living at 14 Orchard Road, Welling by then. He was awarded the Victory medal and the British War medal.
Gunner William Pooley has no known grave, but is commemorated in Carnoy military cemetery in the Somme. This cemetery was established in August 1915, by the 2nd King’s Own Scottish Borderers and the 2nd King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, when Carnoy village was immediately South of the British front line. It was used by troops holding this sector until July, 1916 and was closed in March, 1917. From March to August 1918, it was in German hands, and German (and a few British) graves were made between the British graves and the entrance, and also in a German Cemetery alongside; but the German graves and the German Cemetery were removed in 1924.
William had six brothers and one sister. Two brothers were too young to enlist and his four other brothers survived the war. First-class stoker Frederick, served on HMS Inflexible and was hailed a local hero for his part in the Battle of Jutland. Charles and Henry served as gunners in the Royal Field Artillery and Royal Garrison Artillery. Arthur enlisted with the 46th Training Reserve Battalion in 1917 at the age of 18, but escaped the war after being discharged as medically unfit due to a curvature of his spine.
Commemorated
Links
This story has been researched by volunteers. We have taken every effort to ensure its accuracy. If you are related to William John Pooley, or if you have any further information, please do get in touch.