Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown War Memorial

In Memory of

Lance Corporal William Corcoran

201096
2nd/4th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment
Died of Wounds 29th August 1918 Age 20

William was one of seven brothers who served with the Army. He lived with his parents, Patrick and Alice Corcoran, at 43, Cherry Street, Newton Common. He attended St. Mary's R.C. School then worked as a drawer at the Wood Pit, Haydock. Unlike his brothers, William's name is not on a list of recruits published in the NEG as he would have been too young to enlist in 1914.

According to the NEG obituary published on 20th September 1918, William died at the No. 36 Clearing Station, which had been the scene of his brother Peter's death early the same year. The paper records that "about eight weeks ago, he was home on furlough and told his family he had a premonition that he would never come back again alive."

William is buried in St. Martin Calvaire British Cemetery, St. Martin-sur-Cojeul, eight kilometres south south eat of Arras, in Plot II, Row A, Grave 2. He was probably wounded on 28th August during the Battle of Scarpe. The Official History of the War gives an account of the fighting during which Henry Daniels, who is buried in the adjacent row, and Fred Stanley were also killed.