Pte 59280 William Moodie

• Age: 37
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 27th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Boulogne East Cem
  Panel Ref: IX.A.55

William Moodie was born December 1880 in Liverpool. He was the son of William and Isabella Moodie who were married in Scotland. His father was a shipwright and does not appear on the Census records, he died in 1911 and was buried 7th April 1911 at Toxteth Park Cemetery age 60, address 11 Gibson Street.

The 1891 Census shows the family living at 52 Grierson Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His mother, Isabella is aged 43, born in Edinburgh in 1848, she has no occupation listed and is listed as married though her husband doesn’t appear on the Census record. She is living with her four children, Isabella aged 15, born 1876 is a dressmaker, Margaret aged 13, born 1878, William aged 9, and Elizabeth aged 6, born 1885 are all scholars and born in Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 11, Gibson Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His mother, Isabella, is aged 50, (now showing born in 1850) has no occupation listed and still listed as married though her husband doesn’t appear on the Census record. She is still living with her four children, Isabella aged 24, employed as a dressmaker, Margaret Caunce her married daughter aged 22 and her daughter Isabella Caunce aged 1, born 1900, William aged 20, (now showing born 1881) is a house painter and Elizabeth aged 16 with no occupation.   

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 11, Gibson Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. His mother, Isabella, aged 60 is now a widow and has no occupation listed. She is living with her three of her children, Margaret Caunce now aged aged 33 is also a widow and her daughter Isabella May aged 11 is at school, William aged 30 is a decorator and Elizabeth aged 26 is a music teacher.  

William enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 59280 when he died of wounds on the 27^th April 1918 aged 37 during the German Spring Offensive.

William’s death was reported in the Liverpool Echo 1st May 1918:

- Died from Wounds - MOODIE - April 27 died of wounds and gas at Military hospital, Private William Moodie KLR beloved and only son of Isabella and the late William Moodie. 105 Northbrook Street, Liverpool (Deeply mourned)

William now lies in Boulogne East Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“A LOVED ONE SLEEPING”

Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August 1914 when the Allies were forced to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas.

Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de L'Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen.

During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940. The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944.

Boulogne Eastern Cemetery contains 5,577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Isabella.

William is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 19

We currently have no further information on William Moodie, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.