Pte 19597 William Buss

• Age: 25
• From: Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 10th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Gouy-en-artois Cc Ext
  Panel Ref: A.11

19597 Private William Buss, 18^th Battn KLR – DOW 10.04.1917; Gouy-en-artois CC Extension, grave A11.

Born at the end of November 1892 in Manchester, William was the eldest child of Harry Buss and his wife Ada (nee Newton). They had six other children – Harry (1893-1980); Doris (1899-1989); Elizabeth (1902-?); John Albert (1904-2001); Ada (1906-2002) and Arthur (1909-1994). Remarkably for the time, most of the family lived to be 90+.

In 1901 they lived at 73 Bellevue Street, Chorlton, Manchester. William is shown as 9 years of age and lives with his parents and two siblings. His father is a 34 year old engineer (iron planer) born in Hitcham, Suffolk in 1867, whilst his mother is 30 years of age and was born in Manchester. His siblings, both born in Manchester are recorded as: Harry aged 7 and Doris aged 2.

By the time of the 1911 Census the famliy are living at 47 Brunswick Street, Gorton, when William, now aged 19, is employed as an iron shaper. He lives with both parents and six siblings. His parents advise that they have been married for 21 years and have had 10 children of whom 7 have survived. His siblings are rtecorded as; Harry junior aged 17 and employed by the Corporation as a tramway boy, Doris is 12, Elizabeth is 9, John is 7,Ada is 4 and Arthur is 1.

William Buss enlisted in Manchester on 07th September 1914 giving his age as 22 years and 10 months and his occupation as a machinist. He was posted to the Depot of  The King's Liveppool Regiment as Private 19597 and subsequently posted to the 13th Battalion K.L.R. on 02nd October 1914. He was described as being 5" 4 and a half inches in height, weighed 117lbs, with a 34 and a half inch chest. He had brown hair and blue eyes and stated his religion as Church of England. He gave his next of kin as his father at 49 Lunn Street and arrived in France on 29th September 1915.

On 07th July 1916 he was posted to the 18th Battalion K.L.R. On 26th July 1916 he was sentenced to 7 days CB for “urinating in the Company lines”. On 16th October 1916 he sustained a gunshot wound to his right hand but resumed duty 10 days later.

He attended 30^th Division Grenade School between 17th December 1916 and 04th January 1917.

On 09^th April 1917, during the opening phase of the Battle of Arras, he suffered a gunshot wound to his back and died in 96^th Field Ambulance next day, 10^th April 1917, aged 25. 

Details of the circumstances the 18th Battalion had to contend with on that day are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up” for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.

William now rests at Gouy-en-Artois Communal Cemetery Extension where his headstone bears the following poignant epitaph:

"DEAR SON HOW I THINK OF YOU. FRIENDS ARE FRIENDS IF THEY BE TRUE. I LOST ALL WHEN I LOST YOU".

The extension was made in April 1917 at the time of the Allied advance from Arras. Two further burials took place in June and July 1917, and five in March 1918. Gouy-en-Artois Communal Cemetery Extension contains 44 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There are also four German war graves. The extension was designed by Charles Holden.

William was awarded three medals including the 14/15 Star.  

His mother died in 1949 and the father died in 1956.

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

Grateful thanks are extended to Janet Powell who provided the wonderful photograph of William and gave us permission to use it.