William Collyer Died 1 July 1916
William was the second son of Arthur and Ellen of Easthampstead Laundry, born in about 1896.
In 1911 the family lived at the laundry, William his older brother and sister and 4 step-children and 2 grandsons.
William joined the Royal Berkshire regiment (number 16487) 6th battalion and was killed on the Somme on the opening day of the battle. His body was not recovered and his name is commemorated on the great Thiepval Memorial. He was 19 years old.
A sad article appeared in the Reading Chronicle on 13th July 1918
“Edwin F F Englefield 17 son of Mrs Collyer of Eastheath by a former marriage, was drowned in Heath Pool. Mrs Collyer has already lost one son killed in the war and another is missing, “