The 9th (Service) Battalion (Pioneers) arrived at Le Havre on the 29/07/1915 and were part of the 37th Division. William fell during the First Battle of the Scarpe, 9th - 14th April 1917. The 37th Division also captured Monchy le Preux. This was part of the Arras offensive (Battle of Arras), 9th April -16th June 1917 : Once again the British are called upon to launch an attack in support to a larger French offensive : the Battles of the Chemin des Dames and the hills of Champagne. The opening Battle of Vimy and the First Battle of the Scarpe are very encouraging, but once again the offensive - often known as the Battle of Arras - bogs down into an attritional slog. Final attempts to outflank the German lines at Bullecourt prove terribly costly. William is listed as McEWEN with the CWGC and on his GRAVE. William was formerly with the Royal Engineers (3362). See Directory for William's brother David's page. Grave photo kindly donated by Mick McCann at the British War Graves website who supply photos FREE OF CHARGE
here. William is also remembered on the Trinity Parish Church Roll of Honour with his brother David (see photos). William was reburied in Foncquevillers Military Cemetery (see photos). See photos for William's Medal Index Card, his CWGC Grave Registration x 3, his Headstone Report, his Pension Records x 2, Foncquevillers Military Cemetery, William's former Regiment the Royal Engineers Cap Badge and the North Staffordshire Regiment Cap Badge.
