Private William Creary

Army Number: 27379

Battalion: 17th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

Born at Barrow. Lancashire and lived at Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire. Son of John Dutton Creary and Agnes Creary; Husband of Alma Creary, of 134, Blake Street, Mansfield Woodhouse. He was a coal miner prior to enlisting on 16th June 1915 at Mansfield. He went to France on 6th March 1916 and suffered gunshot wounds to his head on the 3rd July 1916, whilst on a trench raid on the German line near Festubert, France. He was treated at No. 33 Casualty Clearing Station, Bethune, France and was transferred to No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne, France, 5th July 1916. He was then transferred to England on Hospital Ship Manama and died of wounds, on 13th July 1916, aged 28, at Newcastle-Under-Lyme War Hospital, Staffordshire.

“PTE. W. CREARY, MANSFIELD WOODHOUSE.

“Private William Creary, 134, Blake-street, enlisted in the 17th Sherwood Foresters about 14 months ago, and after training at Nottingham and Surrey Camps was sent in a draft to France on March 4th. News that be had been wounded on the 3rd July came from his comrades and later the sad intelligence reached Mrs Creary that her husband had died on the 13th. He was popular with his fellow comrades. His remains were conveyed to his home, and with full military honours was buried by the side of another comrade, Private John Edward Roberts on Monday. [17th July 1916] A large crowd of spectators lined the route despite the drizzling downpour of rain. The service in the church, and at the graveside, was conducted by the Rev. D. F. Coles. At the grave, the hymn, “Abide with Me,” was sung. The coffin, which was placed on a gun carriage, was covered with the Union Jack. The cortege was preceded by a military band from Clipstone Camp. In addition to the mourners, the members of the Sherwood-street social club followed and placed an artificial wreath and globe on the grave. The poor fellow leaves a widow and two children.”

‘Mansfield Reporter & Sutton Times,’ 21st July 1916.

Buried: Mansfield Woodhouse (St. Edmund) Churchyard Extension, United Kingdom. Near North-West corner.

Private William Creary is also commemorated on the following local memorials:-
Yeoman Memorial Park, War Memorial, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire.
Victoria Embankment War Memorial, Nottingham.