Pte William Charles Mouland was the son of Charles and Annie Mouland of Salisbury. He enlisted into the Army on 8th Aug 1914 in Cheltenham. He initially joined the Cavalry reserves in Aldershot on 10th Aug 1914, but was transferred to the Wiltshire Regt Depot on 27 Nov 1914 (Regt No. 14541), possibly as this was his local regiment. From the Depot he was posted to the 3rd Bn Wiltshire Regt which, at the time, was the reserve battalion for training and future allocation to either of the 'Regular' battalions, 1st and 2nd.

On 3rd Aug 1915, William was posted to the 2nd Bn Wiltshire Regt in France who had been heavily involved in trench warfare, in a draft of replacements. In Sept 1915, he took part in the Battle of Loos where the battalion took heavy casualties. He reported sick early in March 1916 whilst serving in the trenches suffering from swelling of the face, arms and legs, he also had backache and was passing blood in his urine. He reported that 'it is was worse in damp weather'. William was admitted to the King Charles Hospital in London on 18th March 1916, the following day, he was formally posted back to the Wiltshire Regt Depot in Devizes. The hospital had diagnosed him as suffering from "Trench Nephritis". He was assessed as unfit for further service and discharged from the Army on 29th Aug 1916, with a war pension.

William was continually assessed by military medical boards regarding his war pension. By July 1917, he had served a total of 2 years and 22 days, of which 228 days were in the trenches in France He was awarded the 1915 Star, War and Victory medals. He was also awarded the Silver War Badge for his service.

William Charles Mouland died on 25th Jan 1918, aged 22, and was buried near his family home in West Tytherley - with a CWGC headstone...