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About William Kelter
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NameWilliam Kelter
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InitialsWK
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SurnameHannant
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Date of Birth19 November 1892
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Birth townHoning, Norfolk
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Resided townHoning, Norfolk
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CommemoratedVIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL, France and Honing War Memorial
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NationalityEnglish
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Place of deathFrance
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Date of death21 September 1918
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Married
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OccupationFarmer’s son working at home
Service Information
Army
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Service Number3384/2384/G15283
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RankPrivate
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RegimentNorfolk Regiment
Biography
William was one of ten children born to William and Blanche Hannant (nee Kelter) who had their own farm in Honing. On the 1911 Census, William was listed as a farm hand on his father’s farm.
Private Hannant initially served with the 2/5 Territorial Force Norfolk Regiment before transferring to the Sussex Regiment, initially the 11th Battalion and then the 16th Battalion. His exact movements remain unknown until his death in action on 21 September 1918, at Templeux Switch. The severity of the battle is reflected in the following extracts from the Battalion War Diary for this day. ‘The Battalion fought throughout with the greatest gallantry and innumerable cases of exceptional gallantry occurred but very few witnesses remained to give evidence of them… this was a very bad day for the Battalion. Only 3 Officers and 31 O.R.s got back to our lines in the first instance though several stragglers turned up later.’
William’s name is recorded at the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Harcourt near Arras, suggesting that his body was never found. He was 25 years old. He is also commemorated on the War Memorial in his home village of Honing, Norfolk.
Please get in touch if you can tell us anything more about William.