The Huntingdonshire Cyclist Battalions

William Ernest Storey.

. He was born at Pentney in Norfolk and was living at New Street, St. Neots from where he enlisted <21/5/1915. an was posted as private 1671 to D company 2/1st HCB.
He was posted to the base depot B. E. F. France on 26th July 1916, he was rationed up to and for that day. Order was part 2 No. 171 issued by W. L. Stephenson, 2/Lieut. & acting Adjutant, 2/1st Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. The order was issued at Well Camp Alford at 8-00 p.m., 28th July 1916.

He was killed by the same shell that killed Ernest Arthur George Cope on 8/5/1916.

He was on leave in Feb. 1916. He had only been back in France for a short time when he was killed. He was the son of Police inspector Storey of St. Neots.

He was 30279 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment. and then in the 14th (service Battalion) Royal Warwicks.), was wounded and eventually his name was placed on the Arras Memorial - Faubourg d' Amiens Cemetery.

His parents were Annie and late Inspector Walter. He was 32 when he died. Farm Lab. & Grocer

15/9/1916 = Pte W. Storey, Hunts Cyclist Battalion, son of Mr. Walter Storey, Eynesbury, has been wounded.

8/9/1916 = Pte. W. Storey, Cyclist Batt., son of Mr. Walter Storey, Eynesbury, has been wounded, but the extent of the injury is not known.

15/9/1916 = Inspector Storey’s [St. Neots] son William [Cyclist Battalion] has been seriously wounded.

5/9/1916 = We learn with much regret that Pte. W. Storey, son of Insp. Storey, of St. Neots, who was in the Cyclist Battn. Has been seriously wounded. The Sister in charge of the hospital wrote that he had undergone an operation and was a little better when she wrote.

29/9/1916 = Pte. W. Storey (Cyclist Batt.) , son of Insp. Storey of St. Neots, is now in hospital in England. His wounds, which are in his back, are serious, but he is making good progress. He had a very lucky escape. His patrol was searching for a German dug-out, which had been missed, when they found it, and in it were a number of Germans, who started machine-gun firing, and throwing bombs. A bomb came straight at him, he ducked, it went straight over his head and exploded just behind him. Fortunately most of it went in the opposite direction or he must have been killed. It was considered marvelous that he was not more injured. He told his father, who has been to see him, that in some of the trenches the water was so deep that it ran in the pockets of their tunics Peterborough Standard ref 2048

7/10/1916 = Pte W. Storey, Cyclist Battalion, son of Insp. Storey, of St. Neots, who was wounded seriously in the back whilst searching a German dug-out, is now in hospital in England.

. 25/5/1917 = Pte. W. E. Storey, of St. Neots, Killed. The many friends all over the county of Inspector and Mrs. Storey, St. Neots, will feel the utmost sympathy and regret at the news of the death of their son, Pte. W. E. Storey (Warwicks Regt. ) who was killed don May 8th. He was wounded on September 3rd last year and, after being in various hospitals, came home just before Christmas, leaving again on January 16th. About the middle of February he returned to France. The deceased soldier, before joining the Army was an assistant to Mr. Cobb, grocer, St. Neots, who highly valued his services, for he was always most reliable and thoroughly competent. In the town generally he was greatly esteemed. His age was 32. Inspector Storey has received the following letters:- 10th May 1917. Dear Mr. Storey, - It is with the most profound regret that I write to inform you of the death in action of your son, Pte. W. E. Storey, from shell fire, the day before yesterday (May 8th). During our spell in the front line trenches we experienced considerable shelling from the enemy artillery, but it may be of some consolation to you to know that you son maintained a cheerful endurance until the end throughout that trying period, and met his death fearlessly, that he preserved a soldierly determination to the last is evident from the fact that he was cleaning his rifle in view of a probable crisis, when a shell landed in the trench causing the instantaneous death of your son and his friend E. A. G. Cope. We buried them both in soldiers' graves behind our trenches, and I have handed in the exact map reference to the place of internment to our Headquarters. I take this opportunity to tender on behalf of myself and the whole platoon our deep sympathy with you in your great loss, which will be felt sincerely by us all for a true, upright and brave comrade, Yours sincerely L. J. Wood, 2nd Lieutenant.
A friend of the deceased soldier, Pte. Mashford, in the course of a letter says just a few lines to convey the sad news of your son's death. I suppose that you have already heard, but being your son's companion, and the promise we made, I felt it my duty to write. He was killed by a shell, instantly, so he did not have any pain. I think I saw him take his last breath, as I was beside him. It was a shock to me and I miss him very much, as he was my best pal I had out here, we always shared in everything. I do not know how I escaped, as there were four all together. I should like a photo of him. There was another Hunts. Young fellow we knew from Buckden. It was a terrible day I can tell you. Accept my deepest sympathy.

Inspector Storey's other son, Harry, who was wounded, is now back again fighting in France.

Pte W. Storey, Cyclist battalion, son of Insp. Storey, of St. Neots, who was wounded seriously in the back whilst searching a German dug-out, is now in hospital in England.

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If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com

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09/04/2012
. . Martyn Smith ©

.	He was born at Pentney in Norfolk and was living at New Street, St. Neots from where he enlisted <21/5/1915. an was posted as private 1671 to D company 2/1st HCB. He was posted to the base depot B. E. F. France on 26th July 1916, he was rationed up to and for that day. Order was part 2 No. 171 issued by W. L. Stephenson, 2/Lieut. & acting Adjutant, 2/1st Hunts. Cyclist Battalion. The order was issued at Well Camp Alford at 8-00 p.m., 28th July 1916. He was killed by the same shell that killed Ernest Arthur George Cope on 8/5/1916. He was on leave in Feb. 1916. He had only been back in France for a short time when he was killed. He was the son of Police inspector Storey of St. Neots. He was 30279 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment. and then in the 14th (service Battalion) Royal Warwicks.), was wounded and eventually his name was placed on the Arras Memorial - Faubourg d' Amiens Cemetery. His parents were Annie and late Inspector Walter. He was 32 when he died. Farm Lab. & Grocer 15/9/1916 = Pte W. Storey, Hunts Cyclist Battalion, son of Mr. Walter Storey, Eynesbury, has been wounded. 8/9/1916 = Pte. W. Storey, Cyclist Batt., son of Mr. Walter Storey, Eynesbury, has been wounded, but the extent of the injury is not known. 15/9/1916 = Inspector Storey’s [St. Neots] son William [Cyclist Battalion] has been seriously wounded. 5/9/1916 = We learn with much regret that Pte. W. Storey, son of Insp. Storey, of St. Neots, who was in the Cyclist Battn. Has been seriously wounded. The Sister in charge of the hospital wrote that he had undergone an operation and was a little better when she wrote. 29/9/1916 = Pte. W. Storey (Cyclist Batt.) , son of Insp. Storey of St. Neots, is now in hospital in England. His wounds, which are in his back, are serious, but he is making good progress. He had a very lucky escape. His patrol was searching for a German dug-out, which had been missed, when they found it, and in it were a number of Germans, who started machine-gun firing, and throwing bombs. A bomb came straight at him, he ducked, it went straight over his head and exploded just behind him. Fortunately most of it went in the opposite direction or he must have been killed. It was considered marvelous that he was not more injured. He told his father, who has been to see him, that in some of the trenches the water was so deep that it ran in the pockets of their tunics Peterborough Standard ref 2048 7/10/1916 = Pte W. Storey, Cyclist Battalion, son of Insp. Storey, of St. Neots, who was wounded seriously in the back whilst searching a German dug-out, is now in hospital in England.
.	25/5/1917 = Pte. W. E. Storey, of St. Neots, Killed. The many friends all over the county of Inspector and Mrs. Storey, St. Neots, will feel the utmost sympathy and regret at the news of the death of their son, Pte. W. E. Storey (Warwicks Regt. ) who was killed don May 8th. He was wounded on September 3rd last year and, after being in various hospitals, came home just before Christmas, leaving again on January 16th. About the middle of February he returned to France. The deceased soldier, before joining the Army was an assistant to Mr. Cobb, grocer, St. Neots, who highly valued his services, for he was always most reliable and thoroughly competent. In the town generally he was greatly esteemed. His age was 32. Inspector Storey has received the following letters:- 10th May 1917. Dear Mr. Storey, - It is with the most profound regret that I write to inform you of the death in action of your son, Pte. W. E. Storey, from shell fire, the day before yesterday (May 8th). During our spell in the front line trenches we experienced considerable shelling from the enemy artillery, but it may be of some consolation to you to know that you son maintained a cheerful endurance until the end throughout that trying period, and met his death fearlessly, that he preserved a soldierly determination to the last is evident from the fact that he was cleaning his rifle in view of a probable crisis, when a shell landed in the trench causing the instantaneous death of your son and his friend E. A. G. Cope. We buried them both in soldiers' graves behind our trenches, and I have handed in the exact map reference to the place of internment to our Headquarters. I take this opportunity to tender on behalf of myself and the whole platoon our deep sympathy with you in your great loss, which will be felt sincerely by us all for a true, upright and brave comrade, Yours sincerely L. J. Wood, 2nd Lieutenant. A friend of the deceased soldier, Pte. Mashford, in the course of a letter says just a few lines to convey the sad news of your son's death. I suppose that you have already heard, but being your son's companion, and the promise we made, I felt it my duty to write. He was killed by a shell, instantly, so he did not have any pain. I think I saw him take his last breath, as I was beside him. It was a shock to me and I miss him very much, as he was my best pal I had out here, we always shared in everything. I do not know how I escaped, as there were four all together. I should like a photo of him. There was another Hunts. Young fellow we knew from Buckden. It was a terrible day I can tell you. Accept my deepest sympathy. Inspector Storey's other son, Harry, who was wounded, is now back again fighting in France. Pte W. Storey, Cyclist battalion, son of Insp. Storey, of St. Neots, who was wounded seriously in the back whilst searching a German dug-out, is now in hospital in England.
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If you can help with any data on this Huntingdonshire Cyclist please contact me at huntscycles@btinternet.com
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09/04/2012	.	.	*Martyn Smith* ©