William Clifford Piggott

Rank 
Private
Regiment 
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Date of death 
9 September 1919
Age of death 
21
Address 
2 Percival Villas
Albert Road
South Woodford
Woodford
Essex
E18 1LE
Address source 
1911 Census
Cemetery / Memorial 
Russia
Biography 

Born on 9th November 1897 in Walthamstow, the son of James (Paperhanger) and Harriet Piggott. 1901: With his family at 2 Percival Villas, Albert Road, South Woodford. 1911: With his family at 2 Albert Road (Percival Villas), South Woodford. He was later employed as a Van Guard.

He enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry, entering the Training Depot at Deal on 23th November 1914. He went on to serve on HMS “Jupiter”, HMS “Prince Rupert” and in the naval base at Chatham. From there on 18th July 1919 he was allocated to 6 Battalion RMLI, a composite unit of new men, and war veterans some of whom had been prisoners of war. Initially they were to help oversee a referendum in Schleswig Holstein to determine whether that area would remain in Germany or transfer to Denmark. For various reasons they were instead sent to North Russia to reinforce the military campaign there against Bolshevik Forces. It appears among other things none of the POW members had been granted any home leave on release, a policy of sending volunteers to Russia did not seem to have been followed in this case, and older more experienced men were used in supporting roles, leaving the inexperienced men out in the field. It is said being under Army control, led by perhaps some inadequate, (and without question some very inexperienced) RMLI Officers – most of whom became casualties - did not help.

They were ordered to take the village of Koikori near the area of Lake Onega and Finland on 28/29th August, and tackle two groups of Finnish troops supporting the Bolsheviks. Their attack was beaten off with casualties including their Commanding Officer who was killed. A further attempt was made on 8th September, under the command of an Army Major, but this attack also failed. Casualties this time included two wounded Company Commanders. A separate attack on Ussuna also failed, seeing the RMLI Adjutant killed by sniper fire.

On 9th September rather than undertake a further assault, a number of men refused to go forward and withdrew. We know that William Piggott was not among them, for he and three others were Killed in Action by the Bolsheviks that day.

He is buried at the north side of the churchyard at Svyatnavolok, 56 miles South West of the North end of Lake Onega, but because his grave cannot be maintained, he is formally commemorated on the memorial in Murmansk New British Cemetery.

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Principal Sources:

Ancestry.com