18749 Staff Sergeant WILLIAM ALMOND
Royal Engineers
by
ŠLieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis, 1999.
William Almond was a Regular Army soldier at the time of the outbreak of the Great War of 1914-1918. He served in France and Flanders with the 54th Field Company, Royal Engineers, a unit of the 7th Division. The 54th Field Company took part in the following campaigns during the war:
Ypres: 19 October - 22 November 1914
Langemarck: 21-24 October 1914
Gheluvelt: 29-31 October 1914
Neuve Chappelle: 10-13 March 1915
Ypres: 22 April - 25 May 1915
St. Julien: 24 April - 4 May 1915
Aubers: 9 May 1915
Festubert: 15-25 May 1915
Loos: 25 September - 5 October 1915
Albert: 1-13 July 1916
Bazentin: 14-17 July 1916
Delville Wood: 15 July - 3 September 1916
Pozieres: 23 July - 3 September 1916
Guillemont: 3-6 September 1916
Ginchy: 9 September 1916
Bullecourt: 3-17 May 1917
Polygon Wood: 26 September - 3 October 1917
Broodseinde: 4 October 1917
Poelcappelle: 9 October 1917
Passchendaele: 12 October 1917
Passchendaele: 26 October - 10 November 1917
The 54th Field Company also served in Italy with the 7th Division and was present at the actions at Piave from 15-24 July 1918 and at Vittorio Veneto from 24 October to 4 November 1918.
Almond survived the war. He held the rank of Sapper when the war began and was an Acting Sergeant by the end of the war. For his service during the war he was awarded the 1914 Star and bar, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Almond served in the branch of the Royal Engineers known as the Military Engineer Services and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After completing 18 years of service he was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (GVR).
References
1. Soldiers Died in the Great War.
2. Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers. The Royal Engineer
Journal, The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent,
1925-1932.
3. Medal Index Card.