Willow Hewett, an author and mother from Wells, Somerset, recently bought a framed photograph of a World War One soldier at a car boot sale in Cheddar for just £5. Intrigued by the unsolved mystery of the man’s identity, Willow has since dedicated herself to uncovering the soldier’s story—and locating any surviving relatives in Gloucestershire.
Though the couple who previously owned the portrait had no clue who the man was or where the photo came from, Willow’s curiosity was piqued. Initially intending to display the striking image on her wall, she soon set out to uncover the details behind the anonymous serviceman.
Her persistence paid off when she examined the back of the frame and found a service number alongside the studio’s name and a World War One crest. This crucial clue led Willow deep into archival research, exploring resources like The National Archives, Imperial War Museums, and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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Through these efforts, Willow identified the soldier as Private William Robert Linderbury-Hickerton, born in 1892 in Walton Cardiff, Gloucestershire, son of William Linderbury and Elizabeth Hickerton. The 1911 Census revealed he worked as a farm labourer before enlisting in the Royal Army Medical Corps with service number 2032.
William served with the 32nd Field Ambulance, a frontline unit responsible for stabilizing and evacuating wounded soldiers. While much of his service was spent in Palestine, he was transferred back to Europe in 1918, serving with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers’ 13th Battalion.
Tragically, William was killed on duty in northern France on July 24, 1918, at just 26 years old. Without a known grave, his name is memorialized at Ploegsteert Wood in Flanders, Belgium. As an unmarried man with no children, direct descendants are unlikely, but Willow’s research uncovered that William was one of at least six siblings, suggesting living relatives may still exist.
Eager to reunite the portrait with William’s family, Willow has shared her findings and is appealing for help in locating his Gloucestershire relatives. She has already identified the names of his brothers and sisters—Mary Ann, Alice Harriett, Elizabeth, Charles, and Emma—and believes this will assist in tracking down his descendants.
Despite tracing several Linderburys in Gloucestershire, Willow has yet to make definitive contact but remains hopeful. She has reached out to a possible relative named Roger Linderbury via social media and awaits a response.
Willow is determined: should she find William’s family, she will return the treasured photograph to its rightful place; if not, she will keep the image as a lasting tribute to a brave soldier whose story was nearly lost to time.