13th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
William Walter Mason was born in Gloucester in January 1898. He was the son of Alfred and his wife Sophia Elizabeth (née Leighton). Alfred was a cabinet maker, who lived from 1853-1952, whilst Sophia lived from 1860-1932.
According to the 1911 Census the couple had twelve children, of whom eight were living at that time. It is believed that William was the youngest child. The family lived at 87 Cecil Road, Gloucester.
Unfortunately, no Army Service Record has survived for William, so exactly when he joined the Army is not known: he enlisted at Gloucester. Given his age and the fact that he had seen service with the 13th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, would suggest that he was conscripted sometime during 1916 or even early 1917.
The 13th Battalion was a ‘Works’ battalion of the Devonshires and always UK based. It was disbanded at Ipswich on 31 October 1917 to become the 3rd Labour Battalion of the Labour Corps.
According to the Gloucester Journal of 15 December 1917 he died at Basingstoke Hospital on 29 November after a short illness: the nature of the illness is not known. He was aged 19.
His funeral, held with military honours, took place at Gloucester Cemetery on 5 December and it was attended by members of his extensive family and friends. His funeral was reported in the Gloucester Journal which featured the above photograph. One of the mourners was the wife of his brother Alfred, reported as serving in Mesopotamia.
William was laid to rest in Gloucester Old Cemetery, here a standard Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone marks his grave. The headstone states that he was ‘46461 Pte W W Mason, Devonshire Regiment’ and carries the badge of the Devonshire Regiment.
The CWGC Debt of Honour Register states him to be of the Devonshire Regiment transferred to (138006) Labour Corps. The Soldiers Died in the Great War (SD) volume record his as being 138006 with the Labour Corps (formerly 46461 Devonshire Regiment). SD is technically correct, as it was the unit to which he was assigned at the time of death.
He is commemorated on the Gloucester War Memorial.
Researched by Graham Adams 17 August 2019