Company Quatermaster Sergeant Willian John Lane Army Service Corps and Special Constabulary
The Man William John Lane was born on 17th August 1890 at Brooklyn Cottage, Chatham Road in Sandling, Maidenhead, Kent the only son of James a Groom Gardener and Mary Ann nee Hayward. He was Baptised in the Parish of St Saviours, Battersea on 24th September 1890.
In the census of 1891 William, still a baby was shown living with his mother, her parents and siblings at 11 Orkney Street, Battersea. In the 1901 and 1911 census, now aged 20 he was back at Brooklyn Cottage with James and Mary, the cottage most likely being part of a large estate.
Following his education William became a Law Clerk working at Messrs Bloor, Latham and Whitehead and on 5th August 1908 aged 18 joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Force. A year later on 4th August 1909 he transferred to No 3 Kent Brigade Company Army Service Corps (ASC), Territorial Force as a Driver with service number T/719 attesting the same day. He was described as 5’7¾“ tall with a 34½” chest, normal vision and good physical development.
He undertook his annual training at Dover 23rd July - 6th August 1910, Crowborough 29th July - 12th August 1911, Worthing 2nd - 9th June 1912 and on 2nd August 1913 engaged for a further four years’ service. Having completed his training in 1913 he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 23rd February 1914 and Corporal on 5th August. On 8th September 1914, following the outbreak of World War I one month before, William signed Army Form E.624, agreeing to serve overseas in the event of a national emergency.
On 27th November 1914 William transferred into the regular army ASC, with new service number T4-083360 and promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant. He was now described as 5’ 10” tall, weighing 10st and 6lbs with a chest of 36½“and a good physical development.
He served at home until 20th December 1914, embarking for France aboard the SS Architect on 21st, landing at Rouen on 22nd and attached to No 3 Company 27th Divisional Train as part of the British Expeditionary Force. On 14th April 1916 he was severely reprimanded for ‘allowing NCOs to take alcoholic drink into the billets on 2nd April.
On 4th August 1917 William married Elsie Smith at St Paul’s Church, Maidstone during leave and gave his address as his parents at 24 Sandling Road. Following marriage he lived with Elsie at 27 Hardy Street, Maidstone. The marriage bans were read on July 15th, 22nd and 29th.
Back at the Western Front, he was wounded on 10th April 1918 and again on 10th December 1918 and hospitalise. His name appearing in the 55th Divisional Train ASC war diaries as having been so.
William survived the war and following the Armistice on 11th November 1918 was awarded a bounty of £15.00 (£1007 in 2022), the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal, Victory Medal and in Army Order 275 of 1919 the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. On 4th June 1919 he was transferred to the Z Class reserve at Woolwich Dockyard, The Class Z Reserve was a Reserve contingent of the British Army consisting of previously enlisted soldiers, now discharged. The first Z Reserve was authorised by an Army Order of 3 December 1918. When expected problems with violations of the Armistice with Germany did not arise, it was abolished on 31st March 1920.
William became a Superintendent Registrar of births, marriages, deaths and in 1939 aged 49 with World War II imminent, joined the Special Constabulary, serving throughout World War II and beyond, being awarded the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1942, his first clasp in 1945 (war service counting treble), second in1954 and third in 1964 aged 74! He was also awarded the Defence Medal for his war time service.
Elsie died in Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone on 10th February 1964, William lived a further 16 years and passed away during the first quarter of 1980 aged 89. Although his date of birth was shown as 1889.
In the census of 1891 William, still a baby was shown living with his mother, her parents and siblings at 11 Orkney Street, Battersea. In the 1901 and 1911 census, now aged 20 he was back at Brooklyn Cottage with James and Mary, the cottage most likely being part of a large estate.
Following his education William became a Law Clerk working at Messrs Bloor, Latham and Whitehead and on 5th August 1908 aged 18 joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Force. A year later on 4th August 1909 he transferred to No 3 Kent Brigade Company Army Service Corps (ASC), Territorial Force as a Driver with service number T/719 attesting the same day. He was described as 5’7¾“ tall with a 34½” chest, normal vision and good physical development.
He undertook his annual training at Dover 23rd July - 6th August 1910, Crowborough 29th July - 12th August 1911, Worthing 2nd - 9th June 1912 and on 2nd August 1913 engaged for a further four years’ service. Having completed his training in 1913 he was promoted to Lance Corporal on 23rd February 1914 and Corporal on 5th August. On 8th September 1914, following the outbreak of World War I one month before, William signed Army Form E.624, agreeing to serve overseas in the event of a national emergency.
On 27th November 1914 William transferred into the regular army ASC, with new service number T4-083360 and promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant. He was now described as 5’ 10” tall, weighing 10st and 6lbs with a chest of 36½“and a good physical development.
He served at home until 20th December 1914, embarking for France aboard the SS Architect on 21st, landing at Rouen on 22nd and attached to No 3 Company 27th Divisional Train as part of the British Expeditionary Force. On 14th April 1916 he was severely reprimanded for ‘allowing NCOs to take alcoholic drink into the billets on 2nd April.
On 4th August 1917 William married Elsie Smith at St Paul’s Church, Maidstone during leave and gave his address as his parents at 24 Sandling Road. Following marriage he lived with Elsie at 27 Hardy Street, Maidstone. The marriage bans were read on July 15th, 22nd and 29th.
Back at the Western Front, he was wounded on 10th April 1918 and again on 10th December 1918 and hospitalise. His name appearing in the 55th Divisional Train ASC war diaries as having been so.
William survived the war and following the Armistice on 11th November 1918 was awarded a bounty of £15.00 (£1007 in 2022), the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal, Victory Medal and in Army Order 275 of 1919 the Territorial Force Efficiency Medal. On 4th June 1919 he was transferred to the Z Class reserve at Woolwich Dockyard, The Class Z Reserve was a Reserve contingent of the British Army consisting of previously enlisted soldiers, now discharged. The first Z Reserve was authorised by an Army Order of 3 December 1918. When expected problems with violations of the Armistice with Germany did not arise, it was abolished on 31st March 1920.
William became a Superintendent Registrar of births, marriages, deaths and in 1939 aged 49 with World War II imminent, joined the Special Constabulary, serving throughout World War II and beyond, being awarded the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal in about 1942, his first clasp in 1945 (war service counting treble), second in1954 and third in 1964 aged 74! He was also awarded the Defence Medal for his war time service.
Elsie died in Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone on 10th February 1964, William lived a further 16 years and passed away during the first quarter of 1980 aged 89. Although his date of birth was shown as 1889.
World War I Medal Index Cards showing award of 1914-15 SStar, 1914-18 British War Medal, Victory Medal and Territorial Force Efficiency Medal.
The Story The medal group awarded to William John Lane were acquired on 24th July 2022 from Johnny Sparrow on Facebook and as part of a larger deal. The decision was made whilst in a bar in Pattaya, Thailand! They were of interest because of the double long service and treble clasped Special Constabulary Medal combination.
William’s First War services records existed on Ancestry.UK which made the research quite straightforward, although finding his actual birth and death record was quite difficult working only to an approximate year of birth. Additionally, his death register showed 1889 as his year of birth rather than 1890. Strangely no matching record of the 1939 register could be found either.
However, sufficient detail was pulled together to enable a reasonable biography to be pieced together and enabling another World War I veteran to be remembered for posterity.
William’s First War services records existed on Ancestry.UK which made the research quite straightforward, although finding his actual birth and death record was quite difficult working only to an approximate year of birth. Additionally, his death register showed 1889 as his year of birth rather than 1890. Strangely no matching record of the 1939 register could be found either.
However, sufficient detail was pulled together to enable a reasonable biography to be pieced together and enabling another World War I veteran to be remembered for posterity.
Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: T4.038360.C.Q.M.SGT. W.J.LANE. A.S.C.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: T4-038360. C.Q.M.SGT. W.J.LANE. A.S.C.
- Victory Medal: T4-038360. C.Q.M.SGT. W.J.LANE. A.S.C.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- TerrItorial Force Efficiency Medal: T4- 038360. C.Q.M.SGT. W.J.LANE. R.A.S.C.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: SERGT WILLIAM.J.LANE
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This page last updated 19 Nov 22
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