Wounded At Messines, POW At Bourlon Wood.

British War Medal 1914 - 20.
Victory Medal.
4779 Pte. W. C. C. Doughton, 15th London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles).

William Charles Cornelius Doughton was born in January 1888 and is recorded on the 1901 Census as the oldest of four children born to Henry and Francis Doughton, residing at 1 Queen's Terrace, Marylebone. By 1914, the family had moved to 5 Belgrave Gardens, Abbey Road, and William was working for Victor Jay & Company, a hat manufacturer located at 34 & 36 Southwark Bridge Road.

On 23rd November 1915, William attested for the Territorial Force, enlisting for the duration of the war in the 15th London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles) at Somerset House. His Attestation Papers describe him as 27 years and 10 months old, 5' 9" tall but with only "fair" physical development. Despite this, he was passed fit for service and signed Army Form E624, stating his willingness to serve overseas. For basic training, William was posted to the 3/15th Londons, the home service battalion stationed at Hazeley Down, where he was appointed paid Lance Corporal on 15th February 1916 and promoted to Corporal five months later. In April 1916, he married Marguerite Giles at St Paul's church in Clapham.

On 19th December 1916, William was sent to France, joining the 1/15th London Regiment on 30th December and reverting to the rank of Private. The Battalion had sustained heavy casualties in the later stages of the Battle of the Somme, firstly on 15th September at High Wood and then on 7th October at the Butte de Warlencourt, and William would have been one of many fresh reinforcements brought in to bring the Battalion up to strength. In early 1917, the 1/15th Londons were in the Ypres Salient contending with enemy activity and freezing winter conditions. In mid-January, the Germans, attired in white garments, took advantage of the snow covering No Man's Land and carried out a successful raid on the British trenches.

In June, the Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Messines Ridge and it was here that William Doughton was wounded in the shoulder, but not seriously enough to merit his being evacuated to England. After four months out of the line at Le Treport and Le Havre, William was able to rejoin his unit in late October.

From 28th November till 6th December, the 1/15th London Regiment were in action in the vicinity of Bourlon Wood. On the 6th, the Battalion was subjected to a strong German attack and forced to withdraw from the village of Graincourt. Following a day of confused fighting, some of the Battalion found themselves surrounded by the enemy and, as darkness fell, attempted to slip through the lines and rejoin their comrades. Unfortunately, they ran into a large enemy force and were taken prisoner. William Doughton was one of those reported missing and later confirmed as a POW. He would spend the next year in captivity, only being repatriated to England in December 1918.

After serving for over three years, William was discharged from the army on 13th February 1919, his intended place of residence being given as 588 Wandsworth Road. He was lucky in one respect; his old employer, Victor Jay, was willing to offer him a position as a buyer and stock controller. His medals were issued to him in August 1921.