Little is known about this man other than what appears in his autograph and the minimal amount of information that can be gleaned from his medal index card and entries on medal rolls.  His entry in Nurse Oliver’s album reads:

There’s a thing called Kaiser Bill

Who one day came over very ill

So Tommy Atkins sent him over No. nine Pill

That killed poor old Bill

Pte W Haydon

7386 Royal Fusiliers

He shares this page with an entry from 12419 Private Charles Robert H Chambers of the 7^th Norfolk Regiment.

His medal index card reveals that his Christian name was William and that he landed in France on 29^th November 1915.  Elsewhere his army number is listed as SR/7386 indicating that he was a Special Reservist.  In peacetime, a man could enlist with the Special Reserve, receive six months’ training and then go back to his civilian job, receiving part pay.  He was however, liable for recall to the army if war was declared.  It seems probable therefore that William Haydon was recalled to the services in August 1914 and, probably after further training, went overseas with a draft of other Royal Fusiliers.

He was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals and the 1915 Star.  He was also awarded a silver war badge (number 56647).  The silver war badge roll indicates that he served with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.

William Haydon was discharged from the army on 9^th July 1918 as being no longer physically fit for war service.  The reference in his album entry to “No nine Pill” refers to the British nine inch howitzer shell.

Sources and Acknowledgements