ABBOTT, THE REV. WILLIAM DAVID, Chaplain to the Forces, s. of the late Rev. David Wyley Abbott, Vicar of Cardington, co. Salop, by his wife, Mary Ann (-); b. Hermaston, co. Lincoln. 22 July, 1885; educ. Christ College, Brecon; was ordained Clerk in Holy Orders in 1909, and subsequently appointed Organizing Secretary for the S.P.C.K.; was gazetted Chaplain to the Forces 7 June, 1918; served with the Expeditionary Force in France from 6 Aug. 1918, and died at No. 5 Stationary Hospital. Dieppe. 3 Dec. following, of pneumonia contracted while on service. Buried in Jaunal Cemetery, Dieppe. His Commanding Officer wrote: “I have had an exceptional opportunity of learning what he was, what an inspiration he was to all around him; what a tower of strength he was on the side of everything manly and clean. He was one of the bravest men in moral courage I ever met…. He was loved by all ranks, and his influence was unbounded: he was so human and so straight. His loss to us here is a calamity…. The good he did and his inspiring personality will leave their mark till we all get home.” He m. at Holy Trinity Church, Boston, 7 Oct. 1909, Ruby (75. Mauldeth Road, Withington), only dau. of the late George Williamson, and had two sons: Kenneth David George, b. 17 Oct. 1910. and John Williamson, b. 21 June. 1916.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5