William Liddle

Born in 1882 at South Shields, he had served in the Boer War and as a seaman, before he enlisted in 12 DLI in 1914, as Private. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, as a Company Sergeant Major with 13 DLI, on 7 October 1916 during an attack on Le Sars, Battle of the Somme, when he "organised bombing parties and worked unceasingly" to clear the village of its German defenders. "He showed marked courage and set a splendid example to his men." He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1917, but was badly gassed, whilst serving with 20 DLI, and forced to retire. William Shields died, aged 43 years, in 1926 at South Shields from the effects of the poison gas.