William Arthur Haydon Lounds (1896-1918)
WILLIAM was the son of Arthur Edward and Sarah Elizabeth Lounds, born at 2 Greenhill Road, Grantham.
Educated at the National School, on leaving school William first worked at the Great Northern Railway’s rolling stock office and later for Barclays Bank at Lincoln. 
He was described as having a very sweet treble voice and was a valued member of St Wulfram’s choir and had been solo boy for several years at the Church.
He was also an altar server at both St Wulfrum’s and later at St Swithin’s Church, Lincoln.
He joined the Army under the Derby Scheme at the age of 19 and servced with 2/4th Lincolns during the Easter 1916 uprising in Dublin by Irish rebels.
This was on Easter Monday, April 24, 1916,when Irish nationalists announced the formation of the Irish Republic, and with 1,600 followers, rebelled against British rule.
They stormed the main public buildings in Dublin including the General Post Office in the main thoroughfare Sackville Street – since renamed O’Connell Street – after the 19th century Irish nationalist Daniel O’Connell.
He then went to France where he was drafted to 1/Lincolns.
He was promoted to corporal in April 1917 and sergeant in December of the same year.
He was seriously wounded in the head by a bullet during the heavy fighting around Cambrai in September 1918 and admitted to the Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, France.
His mother and father were present when he died on 6th October.
He was buried in the British Military Cemetery with full military honours. He had also served with 2/4 and 2/5 Lincolns while in France. (1901 Census RG13 3054/66, 1911 Census RG14 417/19636; CWGC; GJ 19-10-18; SDGW- No trace; TNA MIC, WO329/863)
Compiled with assistance of Malcolm Baxter
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