During a visit to Cheddar Market, Wells resident and author Willow Hewett picked up a framed photograph of a World War One soldier for just £5. What began as a simple purchase quickly turned into a passionate quest to uncover the story behind the soldier and reconnect the portrait with his family.
The previous owners of the photograph, a local couple, had no knowledge of who the soldier was or how the picture came into their possession. Intrigued, Willow hung the photo on her wall but soon began searching for clues to the soldier’s identity.
In a TikTok video, Willow shared how a careful inspection of the frame’s back revealed a service number and the studio name dating back to the Great War era. These led her deep into archives and historical databases—including The National Archives, Imperial War Museums, and The Commonwealth War Graves Commission—opening a window into the soldier’s past.
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Her research identified the man as Private William Robert Linderbury-Hickerton, born in 1892 in Walton Cardiff, Gloucestershire. Before the war, he worked as a farm labourer. When World War One erupted, William enlisted in the Royal Army Medical Corps, serving as a medic with the 32nd Field Ambulance, a frontline unit dedicated to treating and evacuating wounded soldiers.
William saw service mostly in Palestine but was transferred back to Europe in mid-1918, joining the Royal Welsh Fusiliers' 13th Battalion. Tragically, he was killed in action in northern France on July 24, 1918, at just 26 years old. With no known grave, his name is memorialized on the Ploegsteert Wood Memorial in Flanders, Belgium.
Willow discovered that William never married and left no direct descendants. However, he was one of at least six siblings, making it highly likely that living relatives still exist. She has since been searching for William’s family to return the cherished photograph and restore it to its rightful place.
By tracing the names of his brothers and sisters—Mary Ann, Alice Harriett, Elizabeth, Charles, and Emma—and investigating the Linderbury surname in Gloucestershire, Willow has sought connections but has yet to find living relatives. She remains hopeful after reaching out to a potential family member via social media.
“If I find William’s family, I will gladly pass the photograph to them,” Willow said. “If not, I will keep it safe to ensure he is remembered.”
This heartfelt mission highlights the importance of remembering those who served and preserving personal histories that might otherwise be lost.