Lives of the First World War

known 1st January 1900

Addison, William Burns 2nd Air Mechanic, 326916, Royal Air Force. Enlisted on 24/1/19 the day before his 17th birthday. Died of pneumonia at RAF Auxiliary Hospital, Blandford on 22/2/19 aged 17 years and 1 month only one month after enlisting. Buried on 28th February 1919 at St Annes Parish Church. Named on the memorial in Ashton Gardens and buried in the churchyard at St Annes Parish Church in grave N18Q (near school) with CWG headstone. Commemorated on grave N18Q (CWG headstone) at St Annes Parish Church: 326916 Boy, WB Addison, RAF, 22/2/19, aged 18. (Note: in fact he was only 17.) St Annes Express identifies William as nephew of Harry and Fanny Smith, of 14 Orchard Rd. St Annes. The 1924 Residents List identifies Harry as keeping a butcher’s shop at 14 Orchard Rd and living at 73 St Andrews Rd North. William (date of birth 25/1/1902) was a 2nd Air Mechanic with the RAF having enlisted as a “boy” the day before his seventeenth birthday. He died only one month later, presumably a victim of the Spanish flu. According to the St Annes Express William had not lived in St. Annes for long but had gained many friends. Sources of Information CWG, 1924 Residents List, St Annes Express (27/2/19), Burial Register, Monumental Inscription, RAF Service Record.

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