Private William Eyre

Army Number: 2980

Battalion: 1/6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment.

SIX FATHERLESS CHILDREN
North Wingfield Man Killed by Hand Grenade
A North Wingfield soldier who has sacrificed his life for his country has left a widow and six children, one of whom, born last March, he never saw.
The fallen warrior is Private William Eyre (6th Battalion Sherwood Foresters), of Long Row, Hilly Fields, North Wingfield. The news had not, at the time of writing, been notified to the widow by the War Office. It was received by Mrs Jackson, of Clay Cross Hall, in a letter from the front. She immediately communicated with the Rev. C. J. Boden (rector of North Wingfield), who broke the sad tidings to Mrs Eyre. The letter stated that Private Eyre had been killed by a hand grenade.
The widow stoutly refuses to believe that her husband is dead, and told a “Courier” representative on Wednesday that she was absolutely convinced he would turn up alive and well in the end.
Private Eyre, who was only 32 years of age, had served with the Territorials some considerable time and re-enlisted with them on 19th October. He went to the front in February. He was a native of North Wingfield and had worked from a lad in the Williamthorpe Shale pit, except for a period when he was employed at Pilsely as a miner. A keen footballer, he was an enthusiastic and valued member of the Highfields Mission football club. He was also a regular attender at the St. John’s Ambulance Classes held at North Wingfield.

Derbyshire Courier 7th August 1915

Died: 24th July 1915.

Buried: Maple Copse Cemetery, Belgium. Special Memorial G. 24.