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In memoriam

Lance Corporal William Govan

 

 

William Govan was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1894 or 1895, son of life assurance superintendent John Govan and his Antrim-born wife Sarah. Between 1901 and 1911 the family moved to Ireland. In 1911 they were living at 22 Kelvin Parade, Belfast, William working as a timber merchant's clerk.

Govan enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Belfast on 8 or 9 September 1914 (No.1176). He embarked for France with D Squadron on 1 May 1915.

In February 1917 Govan transferred to the Military Mounted Police (No.P/8092) with the rank of acting lance corporal.

Govan was reported as missing following the German Spring Offensive in March 1918. It was later accepted that he had died of wounds "on or since" 22 March.

As he has no known grave, Lance Corporal Govan is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France, Panel 95.

 

 

Memorial images Copyright © Phillip Tardif with all rights reserved as set out in this Use of Material policy. Newspaper image from the Belfast Evening Telegraph kindly provided by Nigel Henderson, Researcher at History Hub Ulster.