Thank you to Patricia Brazier for the following research.
William was born in Westcott in 1883; his parents were William and Sabrina.
In the 1891 census William’s family are living in Chapel Lane in Westcott, his father is a general labourer. William is 8 years old and has a stepsister; Sophia, she is 11 years old.
In 1901 his parents are living at Shed Brickyard, Stonebridge in the parish of Holmwood. William now has a sister Gladys, who is 2 years old.
The 1909 electoral registers show that William is in Dorking and living at 18 Cotmandene Square, and in the 1911 census he is living at 8 High Street Cottages with his mother Sabrina, now a widow and his sister Gladys, now aged 13 and brother Reginald Charles aged 10. William is single and working as a labourer.
William joined the Royal West Surrey Regiment on 14th August 1914 and arrived in France on 26th August 1915. William died on the 8th August 1918. His regiment were fighting in the area of Morlancourt, their war diary notes that August 8th is the day of the “Great Attack”. Between 7th and 10th August 24 men were killed, 26 missing, 140 wounded 68 gassed and 7 shell shocked. Sadly William was one of the missing, he has now known grave. His name is recorded on Panel 3 of the Vis-en-Artois memorial. This memorial commemorates the lives of 9,000 men who died during the “Advance to Victory” in Picardy and Artois from 8th August 1918 until the Armistice in November.
William’s personal effects and war gratuity were sent to his mother along with his Victory and British Medals and his 1915 Star. Sabrina continued to live in Dorking and died in 1940. His sister, Gladys married Reginald Miles in 1916 and his brother Reginald Charles married Kate Taylor in 1927.
| Born | Westcott, Surrey | |
| Lived | Dorking, Surrey | |
| Son of | William and Sabrina Maslin | |
| Regiment | H.Q Company. 7th Battalion. The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment | |
| Number | G/146 | |
| Date of Death | 8th August 1918 | |
| Place of Death | Morlancourt, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 39 | |
| Memorial | Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France |
