Corps of Military Police

Cap Badge of the Corps of Military Police (King George V)
Soldier Details:
Surname: Steadman
Initials:   W.
Rank:   Sergeant
Army No.:  P/1287
Notes:   MFP. Awarded the 1915 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (1) France, 29/5/1915 to 5/11/17. He was born in Brighton, enlisted and resided in Eastbourne. Killed in Action. No inscription on gravestone. War Diary WO 95/409 4 Dismounted Traffic Control Unit, MFP. 5/11/17 No. P/1287 Sgt W Steadman and No P/1587 Cpl R L Cassam MFP and No. 4969 Pte H Gurney Army Cyclist Corps killed in Ypres by enemy shell. No. 8006 Pte P V Williams wounded in Ypres and evacuated. 6/11/17 Attended funeral of Sgt Steadman and Cpl Cassam at Prison Cemetery Ypres at 2.30 pm. Info from Pension Index Cards:- DEPENDANT'S PENSION. D1. Steadman, William, No. 1287, MFP, dependant Mrs Mercy Steadman, Whitesmith, Chidingly, Sussex, Mother. 20/5/1918 received 14/- per week for life, DEAD 6/6/30. Also: 11/PP/31620. Steaman, Mrs, Mercy, Whitesmith, Chiddingly, Sussex, P/1287, William Steadman, MFP. William Steadman. Extract from the Eastbourne Chronicle 29 May 1915. Soldier Policemen - On Wednesday afternoon eleven constables of the Borough Police Force who have received permission from the Watch Committee to join the army left Eastbourne for Aldershot by the 2.30 train. Their names were PC's Fred Dann, (P/1288) C Grinter, P/1283), J Hastings, (P/1280), J Hooper, (P/1284) O Haines, (P/1286), R King, (P/1278), F Meeds, P/1285), F Mankelow, (P/1279), W Skinner, (P/1282) W Steadman, (P/1287) and E Taylor, (P/1281) and they are all being drafted into the Military Foot Police. It is probable that they will be sent to France in a week or two. Amongst those present at the railway station were Inspector Diplock, Sergts. Lawrence and Wells and PC's Curtia, Braznell, Dean and Peel. Mr W Holdaway (the station superintendent) kindly supplied the men with a box of cigars, PC's Grinter and Meeds were married a few days before leaving, and of the remainder PC's King an Skinner are married men. Out of an original total of 96 members of the force 36 have joined the colours.

Casualty Details:
Date Killed: 5th November 1917
Company: 4 DISMOUNTED TRAFFIC CONTROL UNIT
Cemetery: YPRES RESERVOIR CEMETERY   BELGIUM
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