Military Details
Regiment: Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Rank: Private
Service Number: 10673
Date of Enlistment: 1912
Date of Discharge: 31 March 1919
Reason for Discharge: Medically unfit for service
Other Information:
William was captured at Ypres and taken Prisoner of War on 10 July 1915, spending time in camps in Germany, Lithuania and Russian Poland often under harsh conditions. He was selected for the Invalid Exchange Scheme, suffering from tuberculosis and was sent to Switzerland where he met and married his future wife. He officially remained a Prisoner of War until at least February 1918 in the Sprottau POW Camp. His marriage certificate suggests he was still a POW in December 1918.
Bill’s brothers George and John (Jack) lost their lives in WW1 and are commemorated on the Malpas memorial
William was awarded the Campaign Medals (British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star with clasps and roses).
The 1914 Star (also known as 'Pip') was authorised under Special Army Order no. 350 in November 1917 and by an Admiralty Fleet Order in 1918, for award to officers and men of the British and Indian Expeditionary Forces who served in France or Belgium between 5 August and midnight of 22–23 November 1914. The former date is the day after Britain's declaration of war against the Central Powers, and the closing date marks the end of the First Battle of Ypres.
The 1914–15 Star (also known as 'Pip') was instituted in December 1918 and was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served against the Central European Powers in any theatre of the Great War between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915. The period of eligibility was prior to the introduction of the Military Service Act 1916, which instituted conscription in Britain.
The British War Medal (also known as 'Squeak') was a silver or bronze medal awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive. This was later extended to services in Russia, Siberia and some other areas in 1919 and 1920. Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. Around 110,000 of a bronze version were issued mainly to Chinese, Maltese and Indian Labour Corps. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Allied Victory Medal (also known as 'Wilfred') was issued by each of the allies. It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon. The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory. Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal ('Squeak') also received the Victory Medal ('Wilfred'). However, in general, all recipients of 'Wilfred' also received 'Squeak' and all recipients of The 1914 Star or The 1914/1915 Star (also known as 'Pip') also received both 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred'. The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
I am the daughter of William Glover’s daughter, Adele, and would like to offer an amendment to your information. William (always known as Bill) joined the North Lancaster Regiment in 1912 when he was slightly below the age for enlistment. He fought in the first Battle of Mons in 1914. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and spent time in Germany, Lithuania and Russian Poland, often under very harsh conditions. In 1917 he was selected for the Invalid Exchange Scheme, suffering from tuberculosis. He was sent to Switzerland where he met Anais at a social in Lausanne where she was working in a hotel. She was only 18 when she married Bill and came to England with him, despite knowing nothing of the country or the language. Their first child was born at Foel, Llangadfan, but the second, Adele, was born at Plas Yolyn Cottage in 1921 as by then Bill was working as a gardener at Plas Yolyn itself.
My grandparents bought Tower Bungalow in Dudleston Heath (Criftins) in 1954 and Bill lived there for the rest of his life. At the age of 70 he died due to heart failure while riding his motorcycle towards Ellesmere.
George Glover and John (Jack) Glover who are also commemorated on this website, were Bill’s older brothers, both unmarried and killed during the war.
Many thanks for your additional information which we will add to William Glover’s entry on our Great War site
Terry Fry
Volunteer, Whitchurch Museum & Archives
Sorry, I made a bad mistake in my message earlier today. Of course the name of his regiment was Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, as already stated above.