Corporal, WILLIAM ERNEST USHER 11/241. Born in Rise, East Yorkshire in 1883 William was the youngest of three children to Thomas and Elizabeth Usher. He had a brother, William and sister, Lilian. He was a Hull Corporation Tram Driver by trade.
He married Florence Jane Dickinson, on 9th June 1904 and the couple lived at 60, Folkestone Street, Beverley Road, Hull with their four children Marion, Maud, Bernard Wilson and Mary (War Pension address). His army records describe him as 5 Foot, 3.5 inches tall, 117 lbs weight, 35-37 inch chest, fair physical development, hazel eyes, auburn hair, ruddy complexion, Church of England religion.
When war came he queued outside Hull City Hall on Monday 7th September 1914 joining the 11th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, ‘The Tradesmen’, 2nd Hull Pals. Promoted to Lance Corporal, on 10/05/1917 and to Corporal, on 26/06/1917. William survived Egypt, the Somme, Oppy Wood and Vimy but was killed in action on 12th April 1918 as the Pals pushed up to meet the German Spring Offensive. His body was never recovered and his name is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial; he was 35 and a husband and father of four.
His name is recorded on Hull’s Bridlington Street Roll of Honour and St Marys Church, Sculcoates Lane, Hull
