Private William Alton

Army Number: 19744 (formerly 12984 Leicestershire Regiment)

Battalion: 10th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

Awards: M.M. (Military Medal)

Born at Codnor, Derbyshire. Son of Uriah and Ellen Alton, of Cross Street, Grassmoor, Derbyshire. Husband of Mary Benon (formerly Alton), of Ringwood Terrace, New Tupton, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. He was a coal miner prior to enlisting at Chesterfield. He went to France on 29th June 1915. He was awarded the Military Medal London Gazette Date 18th October 1917 “For gallantry and devotion to duty near Plouvain on the 5th August 1917, when taking part in a patrol which entered the enemy trenches in order to secure identification of the enemy”. He was killed in action, 11th June 1918, whilst serving in the trenches at Auchonvillers, France.

Commemorated: Pozieres Memorial, France. Panel 52 to 54

Private William Alton is also commemorated on the following local memorials:-
Grassmoor War Memorial, Grassmoor, Derbyshire.