Billy Gerrish

Billy Gerrish
Personal information
Full name William Webber Walter Gerrish[1]
Date of birth December 1884
Place of birth Bristol, England
Date of death 8 August 1916 (aged 31)[2]
Place of death Somme, France[2]
Playing position Inside forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Freemantle
1905–1909 Bristol Rovers 49 (11)
1909–1911 Aston Villa 55 (17)
1912 Preston North End 3 (0)
1912–1913 Chesterfield Town
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

William Webber Walter "Billy" Gerrish (December 1884 – 8 August 1916), sometimes known as Willie Gerrish, was an English professional football inside forward who played in the Football League for Aston Villa and Preston North End.[1]

Personal life

In February 1915, six months into the First World War, Gerrish enlisted in the 17th (Service) Battalion of the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment).[3] He was severely wounded in both legs by a shell blast at Delville Wood on 8 August 1916 and died later that day.[3] He has no known grave and his name is listed on the Thiepval Memorial.[2]

Honours

Aston Villa

References

  1. 1 2 Joyce, Michael (2012). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939. Nottingham: Tony Brown. p. 109. ISBN 190589161X.
  2. 1 2 3 "CWGC - Casualty Details". www.cwgc.org. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
  3. 1 2 "Footballer died a hero after leading the fighting at the Somme". Bristol Post. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
  4. Riddoch, Andrew; Kemp, David (2010). When the Whistle Blows: The Story of the Footballers' Battalion in the Great War. Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 978-0857330772.


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