Forename: William Charles
Surname: Derrick
Rank: Private
Regiment: Highland Light Infantry
Institution: St Paul’s Practising School
William Charles Derrick was the son of William Charles and Nellie Derrick and lived at 7 Bath Parade, Cheltenham. He was born on 5 July 1912 and educated at St Pauls Practising School from January 1920 to July 1926. William later worked at the Gloucester Co-Operative Wholesale Society in Bath Road, Cheltenham.
He joined the army in 1940 with the Green Howards (The Yorkshire Regiment) and transferred to the 6th Battalion, The Highland Light Infantry. Private Derrick was killed in action as his unit was attacked from both flanks North of the Dortmund-Ems Canal. He is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery and is commemorated on the Borough of Cheltenham War Memorial. The headstone reads “At the going down of the Sun, and in the morning, we will remember Them”. He left a widow and a sister.