William James John Killick 1881 – 1916
William was the eldest son and second child of William and Mary (nee Muggeridge) Killick. He was born in 1881 in Sussex and the family seem to have moved a couple of times before 1911 when they lived in Crowborough, Sussex. By this time William was a steam traction engine driver and had married Alice (born 1885).
We know that when he enlisted into the army he was living in Reading. He joined the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment 7th Battalion, enlisting in Guildford. The 7th was a new army battalion and were in France by July 1915. 
Their battle honours tell of fighting throughout France and Belgium and William, a Sergeant by this time, was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July1916. The regimental war diaries tells us of the fighting in which William was killed:
‘At 7.30 a.m. The Battn assaulted the German trenches to the front of left half of A 1 Sub sector on a front of about 400 yards – After 12 hours fighting the final objective west of MONTAUBAN was reached and consolidated on a front of about 260 yards. Killed-174, wounded 284, missing 56. Battn Held objective gained during night, establishing touch with 8th E, Surrey Regt on its right and 8th Norfolk regt, on its left’.
Sadly we do not know where he died as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the memorial to the missing at Thiepval. His sister Mary Ellen married and had 5 children so it’s just possible that he still has nephews/nieces alive today.
Name: KILLICK, WILLIAM JOHN
Initials: W J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant
Regiment/Service: The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
Unit Text: 7th Bn.
Date of Death: 01/07/1916
Service No: G/2226
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 5 D and 6 D.
Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
92 Pitcroft Avenue, Reading
Cantley Lodge, Wokingham, Berkshire