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42154 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment
William Deaves was born in Sudbury in early 1900, one of eight surviving children of Frederick Thomas and Louisa Deaves. His father was a carpenter and the family lived at 5 Harp Close Road.
William enlisted in Bury St Edmunds. It is not known when he joined his battalion but in May 1918 the battalion had transferred from the 30th Division to form part of 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. In October the Division saw action in the Final Advance in Picardy; the hardest fought of the final offensive actions. After the Allies had broken through the Hindenburg Line they pushed across the rivers Selle (Battle of Selle 17 – 25 October) and Sambre with the aim to recapture Valenciennes and finally liberate Mons where four years before it had all begun.
William was killed in action aged 18 on 23 October 1918 and lies buried in Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, Nord, France. A Cross of Remembrance was laid by his grave in October 2012.
William was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is also remembered on the memorial in St. John’s Methodist Church, York Road.
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