Main CPGW Record
Surname: MAIR
Forename(s): William Hector
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: 13317
Rank: A/Sergeant
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 'D' Coy 9th (Service) Battalion
Division: 17th (Northern) Division
Age: 21
Date of Death: 1915-12-22
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: VI. A. 6A.
CWGC Cemetery: ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
William Hector Mair was the son of Alexander and Eliza Ann Mair, née Pugh. Alexander was born at Kirkhill, Inverness-shire, Scotland and Eliza at Nantyglo, Monmouthshire, Wales. William's cousin, L/Corporal Frederick Sutherland Mair, 32407, 16th (Service) Bn Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (1st Bradford), was killed in action, 27 February 1917. He was the son of Hector McKenzie and Ruth Mair, née Pugh, the sister of Eliza Ann Mair.
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 16, George Street - William H. Maire, aged 6 years, born Skipton, son of Eliza A Maire, widow.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 24, Devonshire Street - William Hector Mair, aged 16 years, born Skipton, son of Eliza Ann and [stepson of] Alexander Hird. [Eliza had married Alexander Hird in 1909.]
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: A/Sjt William Mair, 13317, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 15.7.15. Died 22.12.15.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: A/Sergt William Mair, 13317, 9th W. Rid. R. D. of W. 22.12.15.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Sgt William Mair, 13317, 9 W. Riding Regt. Date and Place of Death: 22.12.15. 24 Gen. Hospital, Etaples. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Mother and Part Legatee - Eliza A. Hird. £13 3s. 5d. Sister and Part Legatee - Margaret E. £5 3s. 5d. Sister and Part Legatee - Edith E. £5 3s. 5d.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
MAIR, Sgt. W.H., Duke of Wellington’s, 3, Upper Sackville Street, [Skipton], died at Étaples Hospital Dec. 19, 1915, from wounds received in action.
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A/Sergeant William Hector MAIR
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 17th (Northern) Division
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Etaples Military Cemetery
CWGC Headstone
Etaples Military Cemetery
CWGC Headstone - personal inscription
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31 December 1915
MAIR–December 22nd., 1915, at Etaples Hospital, France, from gunshot wound received in Flanders, Sergeant William Mair (21), son of Mrs. Hird and the late Mr. Alexander Mair, of Skipton.
31 December 1915
SERGEANT W. H. MAIR
An official intimation has been received of the death of Sergt. W. H. Mair, 9th Battalion, West Riding Regiment, and son of the late Mr. A. Mair and Mrs. Hird, of 3, Upper Sackville Street, Skipton.
Sergt. Mair appears to have been wounded in the thigh by a rifle bullet on or about December 19th and died in the General Hospital at Eataples on December 22nd.
Deceased was 21 years of age and formerly worked for Messrs. Rose, Hewitt and Company at the Broughton Road Shed. He was at one time a member of the Skipton Company of the West Riding Cadet Battalion.
Corporal John Mair, brother of Sergt. W. H. Mair, has spent a few days at home on leave during the past few weeks. He is in the R.F.A.
21 January 1916
THE LATE SERGEANT MAIR
A short time ago Sergt. W. H. Mair of the 9th West Riding (Duke or Wellington’s) Regiment, and son of the late Mr. A. Mair and of Mrs. Hird, who resides at 3, Upper Sackville Street, Skipton, died in the General Hospital at Étaples from wounds received in action.
This week the following letter, dated January 5, has been received from Capt. M. Robertson of deceased’s young man’s Company.
“I am truly sorry to hear your son has died from his wounds received on December 19, I have still had no official notification about it, but from men who have come back from hospital I fear there is no doubt about the fact. He came to my Company about two months ago and I put him at once in charge of a rather difficult platoon where he did excellent work, and was much liked and respected. Realising that he was a fellow of superior education I offered, after a few weeks, to recommend him for a commission, but he chose (and I admired him for it) to stay with the Battalion as Sergeant and see whether he could earn further promotion in it. I think you will have gathered from his letters that he was very happy in ‘D’ Company, and that he liked his work. I liked him very much personally and had more than one talk with him about his work in civil life and the O.T.C. to which I myself belong.
“I did not see him after he was wounded, but I hear from a Northumberland Fusilier Sergeant that he was hit first in the leg, and then a young lad called Nichol went to help him and the other shell burst near and wounded him again. Of course I have had no chance to verify this story as all wounded go straight away to hospital. You may have heard more details, but I will let you know later if I hear further news. We had a bad day (December I9) and the Battalion, especially our Company, came through with great credit, which was due largely to the steadiness and self-sacrifice of the N.C.O.s, and Sergeant Phillips (of Skipton) who came with your son from ‘B’ Company was killed near the same place. Not a man in our Company, except those wounded, failed to get forward to where he was wanted. When we started, your son came over to me in a terribly hot fire for orders, where to take his men and he got them there before he was hit. Please accept my most sincere sympathy for yourself and my own regret at losing so promising and willing an N.C.O.”
21 December 1917
MAIR – In loving memory of our beloved son and brother, Sergeant W. H. Mair, who died December 22nd 1915 from wounds received in action.
Only a British soldier,
Only a mother’s pride,
He answered a call of honour,
Doing his duty he died.
He fought for love and freedom,
We know he did his best;
Asleep in the arms of Jesus,
A British soldier at rest.
From his loving Mother, Sisters and Brother in India.
20 December 1918
MAIR – In loving remembrance of a dear and devoted son and brother, Sergeant W. H. (Willie) Mair, 9th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who died in hospital at Etaples, December 22nd, 1915, from gun shot wounds received in action December 19th 1915.
Fold him, O Father, in Thine Arms,
And let him henceforth be a messenger of love
Between our human hearts and Thee.
Sorrowfully missed.
From his ever loving Mother, sisters and brother (in India), 3 Upper Sackville Street.
26 December 1919
MAIR – In proud and loving remembrance of a dearly beloved son and brother, Sergeant W. H. Mair (Willie), 9th West Riding Regt., died Dec. 22nd, 1915, from wounds received in action Dec. 19th, 1915.
“Until the dawn breaks and the shadows fly away.”
From Mother, Sisters and Brother.
24 December 1920
MAIR – In proud and loving remembrance of a dearly beloved son and brother, Sergt. W. H. Mair (Willie), 9th West Riding Regt., died 22nd, 1915, from wounds received in action, Dec. 19th, 1915.
“God grant him eternal rest.”
From Mother, Sisters and Brother, 3 Upper Sackville Street, Skipton.
23 December 1921
MAIR – In loving remembrance of a dearly beloved son and brother, Sergt. W. H. Mair (Willie), 9th West Riding Regt., died December 22nd, 1915, from wounds received in action, December 19th, 1915.
“Life Everlasting.”
From mother, sisters and brother, 3 Upper Sackville Street, Skipton.
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View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
31 December 1915
MAIR – Dec. 22nd, 1915, at Etaples Hospital, France, from gunshot wounds received in action in Flanders, Sergt. Wm. Mair (21), 9th West Riding Regiment, son of Mrs. Hird and the late Mr. Alexander Hird, of Skipton.
31 December 1915
SERGT. MAIR OF SKIPTON DIES OF WOUNDS
News has been received that Sergt. W. H. Mair, of the 9th Battalion West Riding Regiment, the son of the late A. Mair and Mrs. Hird, who resides at 3, Upper Sackville Street, Skipton, died on December 22nd in the general hospital at Etaples, as the result of a gun shot wound in the right thigh.
The unfortunate young man was twenty-one years of age, and prior to the war was employed at Messrs. Rose Hewitt’s Mill. He was formerly in the local cadets.
The following letter dated Dec. 23rd, has been received from the 24th General Hospital:– “I wrote to you yesterday saying that that you son, Sergt. Mair, was dangerously ill. He later became unconscious, and I deeply regret to say that he died at 2-50. I offer you my very sincere sympathy in your great sorrow. He has given his life for his country and we all honour him.”
21 January 1916
THE DEATH OF SERGT. W.H. MAIR OF SKIPTON – Refused to Accept a Commission
As reported a short time ago, Sergt. W. H. Mair, of the 9th West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment, and son of the late Mr. A. Mair, and Mrs. Hird, who reside at 3, Upper Sackville Street, Skipton, died in the General Hospital at Etaples on December 22nd, from wounds received in action.
This week the following letter, dated Jan. 5th, has been received from Capt. M. Robertson, of the deceased young man’s Company:– “I am truly sorry to hear your son died from his wounds received on December 19th. I have still had no official notification about it, but from men who have come back from hospital I fear there is no doubt about the fact. He came to my Company from ‘B’ Company about two months ago, and I put him in charge of a rather difficult platoon, where he did excellent work, and was much liked and respected. Realising that he was a fellow of superior education I offered, after a few weeks, to recommend him for a commission, but he chose (and I admired him for it) to stay with the battalion as sergeant and see whether he could earn further promotion in it. I think you will have gathered from his letters that he was very happy in ‘D’ Coy., and that he liked his work. I liked him very much personally, and had more than one talk with him about his work in civil life, and the Officers’ Training Corps, to which I myself belong.
“I did not see him after he was wounded, but I hear from a Northumberland Fusilier Sergeant that he was hit first in the leg, and that a young lad called Nichol went to help him and that another shell burst near and wounded him again. Of course, I have no chance to verify this story, as all the wounded go straight away to the hospital. You may have heard more details, but I will let you know later if I hear further news. We had a bad day (Dec. 19th) and the battalion, and especially our company, came through with great credit which was due largely to the steadiness and self-sacrifice of the N.C.O.’s. Sergt. Phillip (of Skipton), who came with your son from ‘B’ Company, was killed near the same place. Not a man in our company, except those wounded, failed to get forward to where he was wanted. When we started your son came over to me in a terribly hot fire for orders where to take his men, and he got them there before he was hit. Please accept my most sincere sympathy for yourself and my own regret at losing so prominent and willing an N.C.O.”
22 December 1916
In loving remembrance of a dear and devoted son and brother, Sergt. W.H. Mair, who died in hospital at Étaples, December 22nd 1915, from gas and gunshot wounds received in action, December 19th 1915.
One year has passed, our hearts still sore,
As time rolls on we miss him more;
His loving smile, his happy face,
No one can fill our loved one’s place.
His cheery smiles and kindly ways
Are pleasant to recall;
He had a kindly word for each,
And died beloved by all.
From his sorrowing Mother, Sisters and Brothers.
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