WILLIAM EDGAR POTTS

RANK: 2nd Lieutenant.

REGIMENT: 5th Bn. attd. 15th Bn.West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)(Leeds Pals)

BORN:

ENLISTED:

GAVE HIS LIFE: 13/04/1918.

AGED: 27.

AWARD: Military Medal.

CEMETERY: Ploegsteert Memorial stands in Berks Cemetery Extension, which is located 12.5 kilometres south of Ieper town centre.

PANEL: 3 and 4.

LEEDS MODERN: Unknown.

William was the son of Joseph a clock maker with a business in the city Born Pudsey 1860 and Sarah Anna Burton Middleton Born Leeds 1863, they married in Leeds in 1890.

William emigrated to canada in 1913 and in the August of 1914 William joined the Alberta Hussars, not being called to join the fight in europe ,William came back to england to enlist.

He joined the 8th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment Leeds Rifles, of which he had formerly being a member of before going to Canada.

In 1916 he went to France with the 1/8th Bn and was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant, William was awarded the Military Medal for holding an outpost against the Germans.

William was Gazetted a commision into the 5th West Yorkshire Regiment, and in April 1918 was sent to France again, this time attached to the 15/17th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment.

He gave his life on the 13th Apri 1918 leading a platoon into action it was said he lost his life whilst operating a Lewis Machine Gun when a shell landed, he lies where he fell to this day and is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.