Pte 357828 William Lee Okell

• Age: 33
• From: Glasgow
• Regiment: 2/10 Kings Liverpool Regiment
• Died on Friday 29th June 1917
• Commemorated at: Pont Du Hem
  Panel Ref: IV.D.11

William Lee Okell was born in about 1894 in Glasgow, the second son of Herbert Okell and Helena (nee Lee), who married in Middlesex in 1881. Herbert was born in Glasgow, and Helena in Lambeth, London.  They had three children: Herbert, William, and Helena, all born in Glasgow, and all were given Lee as a middle name.

In 1891 the parents with three children are living at 157 E Princes Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire. Herbert is 8, William 6, and Helena 4.  The transcript appears to say his father is ‘not practicing’, although the occupation is not clear.

By 1901 the family has moved to Cheshire, living in a nine room house at 3 South Road, Birkenhead; his father is a retired solicitor. Brother Herbert, 18, is a cotton broker’s apprentice, William is 16, a marine insurance apprentice.  Sister Helena is 14.

They are still at 3 South Road in 1911.  His father is retired. William is 26, single, a clerk in marine insurance.  Herbert 28, is a salesman in the cotton trade,  Helena is 24.  They have a domestic servant.  His father Herbert died later in the year, aged 62.

William’s service record has not survived, so the details of his military service are not known.  William enlisted in the 22^nd (Pals Reserve) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, as Private 357828, and later transferred to  10^th Bn K.L.R.  (Liverpool Scottish).  

The battalion War Diary of 29^th June 1917 includes a “Narrative of a raid on the enemy’s trenches south of Bois Grenier opposite the Bridoux Salient on the afternoon of the 29^th June 1917, by “C” Company of the 2/10^th (Scottish) Bn of the King’s L-pool Reg being known as Dickie’s Dash” [commanded by Capt A.P. Dickinson]. 

“Object: To destroy as many of the enemy as possible and to bring back identifications and booty. “   

“Machine and Lewis guns cooperated in raid, also active against enemy planes. During the raid the Lewis Guns that were sent forward knocked out several of the enemy machine guns at close range, and also dealt with parties of the enemy in the open.”    

“Casualties:  Most of the casualties suffered by our men were inflicted by bombs while in the enemy’s line and by “Minnies” and shell fire in our front line after the withdrawal.” 

Killed - Other Ranks 15,  Missing believed Killed – Officers 2, OR 10,  Missing believed Wounded – OR 8,  Missing – Officers 1, OR 14,   Wounded – OR 48.

Pte William Okell was one of the Missing, believed Killed in action on that day.  His date of death was later established for official purposes.  He was 33 years old.

In the Liverpool Echo on 10^th July 1917 under the heading:

‘Played for Oxton C.C.’ –

“Private W.L. Okell, (Lewis gunner) of the K.L.R., son of Mrs. H. Okell, 28 Elm Road, N. Prenton, is reported “missing, believed killed” in France on June 29.  In a letter to his mother the captain of his company says: ‘He was an exceptional man, and his loss will be felt not only by his company, amongst whom he was very popular, but also by the whole battalion.’  Private Okell was thirty-three years of age, and was well known in the district as, for some years he was wicket keeper of the Oxton Cricket Club.  He was a member of the staff of the Reliance Marine Insurance Co.”

His name with regimental number was included in the list of Missing published in the Liverpool Daily Post on 11^th August 1917.

He now rests in Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, Nord.  His gravestone inscription reads:

“Son of Herbert and Helena Okell, Birkenhead England, In Remembrance” 

Pont-du-Hem was in German hands from mid-April to mid-September 1918. The Cemetery was begun, in an apple-orchard, in July 1915, and used until April 1918, by fighting units and Field Ambulances; these original burials are in Plots I, II and III, and Rows A and B of Plot IV. In April and May 1918, German burials were made in Plots III and IV. After the Armistice, 426 German graves were removed to other cemeteries; the Portuguese graves of 1917-1918 were removed to the Portuguese cemetery of Richebourg-L'Avoue; and British graves were brought in from the suurounding battlefields and from smaller burial grounds.

There are now over 1,500, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over half are unidentified and special memorials are erected to nine soldiers from the United Kingdom believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials record the names of 44 soldiers from the United Kingdom, two from Canada, two from Australia and one of the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry, buried in this or other cemeteries, whose graves were destroyed by shell fire, and of five Indian soldiers whose bodies were cremated. There are 107 German burials and 1 American. The cemetery covers an area of 6,433 square metres.

His brother Herbert is the name on record of his CWGC record, his address given as Drumheen, Parkwest, Heswall, Cheshire.

William's medal card records two medals.  His effects and pension went to his mother Helena, living at 47, Bessborough Road, Birkenhead.  Helena died in 1922, aged 68.

William is commemorated on the following memorials:-

St Stephen's Church, Prenton

Prenton Civic Memorial  

Cheshire Roll of Honour

Oxton Cricket Club Roll of Honour

The image of William was posted on Twitter on the 100th anniversary of his death on 29th June 2017 by Frances Hannigan.

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