William Arthur Flack

WWI Roll of Honour

by Lynette Wray

William Arthur Flack DCM

Military History:        

Regiment:
Royal Garrison Artillery
27th Trench Mortar Battery

Rank:
2nd Lieutenant

Service Number: 
38008

Date of Enlisting:                            

Date of death: 
19.12.1915

Cemetery/ Memorial: 
Boulogne Eastern Part 11 UK, Graves A-F

UK Cemetery/Memorial:
Odsey War Memorial

William Arthur Flack served in the Royal Garrison Artillery Regiment, 24th Trench Mortar Battery in the Western European Theatre of War, France and Flanders. 

While a corporal, he showed extreme bravery and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.  “For conspicuous gallantry at Hooge on 13th November 1915.  He unscrewed a burning fuse from a 50lb trench mortar bomb, which had fallen  back into the bore of a gun owing to a misfire. By his prompt and brave action he saved the lives of the detachment and averted the destruction of the gun. The unscrewed fuse exploded as he threw it from him”.  He was then promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. 

He was shot in the head by an enemy sniper and was being transported back to England but died in Boulogne on 19th December 1915.

William was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the 14/15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

He is buried in the Boulogne Military Cemetery, Eastern Part 11 UK Graves A-F, and on the Odsey War Memorial, Cambridgeshire.

Family History:

Date of Birth:
Last quarter of 1893

Birth Place:
Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire

Residence:
Odsey, Ashwell, Cambridgeshire

Marriage:
Single

William was born in Steeple Morden, the eldest son of Arthur and Rosetta (nee Revell) Flack of Odsey Mill, Odsey, Cambridgeshire.  At the time of enlisting his parents were living in Rock Road, Royston.

Before enlisting with the Royal Garrison Artillery William was a labourer on a nearby farm.

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