Contribute
Advanced search
The information displayed here is at the time of death.
William was born in Garmondsway, County Durham, the first son of William and Elizabeth Janet Sewell. He initially studied at St Andrews University, qualifying with an MB and Bachelor of Surgery in 1904, and subsequently went on to study at the College of Medicine in Newcastle upon Tyne from where he graduated with an M.D. in 1908. In his time at the College of Medicine, William was elected as the President of the Medical Society and served as the Captain of the Old 'B' Company of the University Officers' Training Corps.
Following his graduation, William was appointed as a Lecturer in Pathology and as an Assistant Pathologist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne. A few months into the war, William transferred from the OTC into 11th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. He was actively involved in recruiting for the Battalion before they were sent to France, and according to his obituary was earmarked for rapid promotion. For some period William served as second-in-command of his Company.
William was killed in action on the first day of the Somme on the 1st July 1916 and is buried in Mill Road, Thiepval cemetary.
William is buried in Mill Road Cemetary, Thiepval, France.
UK Census registers, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)
UK Military Service Records, National Archives (available via Ancestry.co.uk)
Newcastle University Archives (Roll of Service, College of Medicine Calendars, Medical Gazette, 1916-17, vol. 17, p. 11.)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The Sole Society (http://www.sole.org.uk/wtsewell.htm)
Ben Howson, Alan Callender.