Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Boscon British Cemetery | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.127 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 8C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | Distinguished Service Order Military Cross | ||
Family :
Son of the late William Kerr, of Whitehaven; husband of Alice A. Kerr, of 1 3, Woodville Terrace, Prospect, Whitehaven.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 2/Border Regiment |
| Action : The Battles of the Lys |
9 April - 29 April 1918. As the first phase of the great German campaign of 1918 lost momentum and failed in its objective to split the British and French armies, subsidiary attacks were shift the balance of the attack and to seek opportunities to exploit other sectors. On the Lys the Germans initially enjoyed spectacular success against a Portuguese Division but the gap was soon plugged and the advance halted.
Detail :
His name appears in the battalion war diaries, when he rejoined his unit on the 7th November, 1917 near Lens. The next day it seems he is promoted from Acting Major, to Acting Lieutenant-Colonel as he takes over command of the battalion. By mid-month the battalion prepares for move to Italy, arriving at San Giorgio, Bosco, 4 miles South of Cittadella. See also: 2nd Battalion, Border Regiment War Diaries.
His name is commemorated at Our Lady & St Joseph's RC Church, Carlisle. "Lieutenant Colonel William Walton Kerr D.S.O., M.C. 2nd Border Regiment 3.5.1918, aged 41 Late of Cummersdale"
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Loyal Welsh No. 378 E.C. | West Wales |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
17th March 1914 | 14th April 1914 | 12th May 1914 |
William joined Freemasonry at a time just preceding the great war and was a member for the near duration of it. Initiated into Loyal Welsh Lodge when he was a Colour Sergeant of the Border Regiment. He paid his dues throughout, so no explicit war service is recorded. The entry against his line in the contribution record shows that his was "Killed in action June 1918."
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley