William Horace Lantsbery Dewhirst was a Yorkshireman and a pupil at Oakham School between 1886 and 1890. He joined up as a Private in the 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) which was part of 36 Brigade 12th Division. He was killed in action during the fighting for Transloy Ridge during the Battle of the Somme aged 42. The battalion war diary says the Fusiliers were ordered to attack objectives in German trenches known as Bayonet and Barley north-west of Gueudecourt. It records: "The attack was not successful owing to the very heavy casualties suffered through enemy's machine guns and artillery, and owing to the fact that an enemy Relief was taking place at this time with the result that the enemy was at double strength in this part of the line." Thirty-five men were killed, among them William. He does not have a known grave and is remembered on Pier 16A of the Thiepval Memorial as well as in Oakham School Chapel. He was the son of William and Mary Dewhirst of Granby Road, Harrogate. 

See where all our Rutland soldiers died during the Battle of the Somme on our interactive map.