L/Clp William Strahan East Lancs Regt 17/5/17

[Will O'Brien]

As per the CWGC

Name: STRAHAN, WILLIAM

Initials: W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Lance Corporal

Regiment: East Lancashire Regiment

Unit Text: 4th Bn.

Age: 21

Date of Death: 17/05/1917

Service No: 201450

Additional information: Son of James and Jane Ann Strahan, of Witton, Blackburn.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Plot G. Row 3. Grave 4.

Cemetery: CALAIS SOUTHERN CEMETERY

[Will O'Brien]

The Cemetery Information also courtesy of the CWGC

Cemetery: CALAIS SOUTHERN CEMETERY

Country: France

Locality: Pas de Calais

Location Information: Calais Southern Cemetery is a civil cemetery lying on the south of the old main road to Dunkerque. Follow the A16 autoroute from Calais to Dunkirk. Come off at Junction 19 in the direction of Marck and follow the road to the junction. Turn left into Calais at the junction and follow the road (D940) for approximately 3 kilometres. The Communal Cemetery is on the left hand side of the road, 50 metres after the traffic lights. To find the Commonwealth War Graves, proceed along the main pathway to the rear left hand side of the Cemetery.

Historical Information: In April 1915, No 6 Base Supply Depot was started at Calais to help relieve the pressure on Boulogne and to provide a base nearer to the front than Le Havre or Rouen. The base remained open until the last Commonwealth forces left France in March 1921. The 30th, 35th and 38th General Hospitals, No 9 British Red Cross Hospital and No 10 Canadian Stationary Hospital were also stationed in the town, providing about 2,500 beds. From May 1915 to March 1918, Commonwealth burials were made in Calais Southern Cemetery. Subsequent interments were made in the new military cemetery at Les Baraques. The cemetery now contains 721 First World War burials. There are also 224 burials of the Second World War, 56 of them unidentified, the majority dating from May 1940. The Commonwealth plot was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

No. of Identified Casualties: 885

[Will O'Brien]

The most likely entry on Free.BMD for our William Strahan is a birth entry in the December quarter of 1895 registered in the district of Blackburn.

[CROONAERT]

SDGW just gives the following extra:

enlisted: Blackburn

Battalion : 2/4th

cause of death : died

(also gives his rank as acting lance Corporal).

Nothing of note mentioned in the regimental history around this date except that the 2/4th were in the Cuinchy sector at this time and had experienced their first hostile raid a few days prior to William's death.

Dave.