105702. 306776, Private, Royal Engineers, Reinforcement Depot, Tank Corps
Born in 1889, Ascot, Berkshire, William was the son of William and Kate RUSLING. In 1891 the family lived in High Street, Scunthorpe and by 1901, the family had moved to King Street, Winterton. In 1911 William was residing at 40 Berkeley Street, Crosby.
William’s service record hasn’t survived but he enlisted in Scunthorpe and was formerly in the Royal Engineers (No. 105702). He died of wounds on 1st April 1918, aged 29 and is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1, Somme, France. William was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The Hull Daily Mail (10th April 1918) states that William was for several seasons a popular and enthusiastic member of Scunthorpe United Football Club.
Lincolnshire Star, Saturday 15th April 1916
"SCUNTHORPE - MILITARY FOOTBALLER.- On Monday a postcard was received from William Rusling, the old Scunthorpe forward, who is now a sapper in the Royal Engineers in training in Llandudno. He got his place in the regimental team last week and scored three goals, his side winning by four goals to two. Scunthorpe will be in!"
Lincolnshire Star, Saturday 13th April 1918
"SCUNTHORPE – Died from wounds – Private William Rusling of the Tank Corps, the old Scunthorpe United forward, died from wounds in France on April 1st. He was 29 years of age."
(Photo supplied by Alwyn Killingsworth - The Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group)
Born in 1889, Ascot, Berkshire, William was the son of William and Kate RUSLING. In 1891 the family lived in High Street, Scunthorpe and by 1901, the family had moved to King Street, Winterton. In 1911 William was residing at 40 Berkeley Street, Crosby.
William’s service record hasn’t survived but he enlisted in Scunthorpe and was formerly in the Royal Engineers (No. 105702). He died of wounds on 1st April 1918, aged 29 and is buried in Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1, Somme, France. William was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The Hull Daily Mail (10th April 1918) states that William was for several seasons a popular and enthusiastic member of Scunthorpe United Football Club.
Lincolnshire Star, Saturday 15th April 1916
"SCUNTHORPE - MILITARY FOOTBALLER.- On Monday a postcard was received from William Rusling, the old Scunthorpe forward, who is now a sapper in the Royal Engineers in training in Llandudno. He got his place in the regimental team last week and scored three goals, his side winning by four goals to two. Scunthorpe will be in!"
Lincolnshire Star, Saturday 13th April 1918
"SCUNTHORPE – Died from wounds – Private William Rusling of the Tank Corps, the old Scunthorpe United forward, died from wounds in France on April 1st. He was 29 years of age."
(Photo supplied by Alwyn Killingsworth - The Friends of the Lincoln Tank Group)