b. 07/07/1893 St Martins, Perthshire. d. 12/05/1971 Wrexham, Wales
William Davidson Bissett (1893-1971) was born on 7th July 1893 at Bauchlands, St Martins, Perthshire, Scotland. He was registered as Bisset at birth. However, he signed his name as Bissett when he married and most official documents use this form. His father, John, was a plumber in 1882. He married Helen “Nellie” Milne nee Davidson, a domestic servant born in Dundee, on 30th December 1892 in Bridgend Hall, Perth. William had three siblings – John, Georgina and George.
William was educated at Taylor’s Institution, Crieff, He was a member of the choir at St Columba’s Episcopal Church, the town band and a ministrel troupe at the local Unionist Club in Crieff. He enlisted in the 6th (Renfrewshire) Battalion, Princess Louise’s (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) on 29th April 1912, giving his occupation as an engineer. It is believed the future Captain Arthur Henderson VC served in the same company. William was mobilised with 1/6th Battalion in August 1914 and went to France on 1st May 1915. He was promoted lance corporal on 25th July, corporal on 24th October and sergeant and Battalion Bombing Sergeant on 1st May 1916. He was commissioned in 3rd Battalion on 19th December 1916. On 2nd May 1917 he returned to France and rejoined 1/6th Battalion on 22nd May. The Battalion moved to Italy in December 1917 and remained there until April 1918. It is possible at this time he was attached to the Machine Gun Corps. He was promoted to lieutenant on 19th June.
William D Bissett VC
On 25th October 1918 east of Maing, France, Lieutenant Bissett was commanding a platoon, but owing to casualties took command of the company and handled it with great skill when an enemy counter-attack turned his left flank. Realising the danger he withdrew to the railway, but the enemy continued to advance and when the ammunition was exhausted Lieutenant Bissett mounted the railway embankment under heavy fire and, calling for a bayonet charge, drove back the enemy with heavy loss and again charged forward, establishing the line and saving a critical situation.
Having been admitted to hospital, he returned to duty on 16th November. He was also admitted to hospital on 18th January 1919 and served in 10th Battalion from April. The VC was presented by King George V in the quadrangle at Buckingham Palace on 10th July 1919. He was demobbed in September 1919 and remained in 6th Battalion. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre on 15th December 1919. He was granted a temporary commission as a lieutenant in 5th (Defence Force) Battalion, Manchester Regiment on 13th April 1921.
William attended the funeral of Arthur Sullivan VC at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks, London on 13th April 1937. He was Chairman of the London Branch of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Association in the 1940s and was also a member of the Royal British Legion at Overton-on-Dee, Flintshire. He attended two VC reunions – the Victory Day Celebration at the Dorchester, London on 8th June 1946 and the VC Centenary Celebrations at Hyde Park, London on 26th June 1956.
William had married Hilda Heywood on 9th July 1919 at Emmanuel Parish Church, West Hampstead, London. They had a son – Donald, born in 1922. Sadly, Donald would steal his father’s medals, insignia, pay book and cheque book. He wore the medals whilst cashing in his fathers cheques and defrauded him of £45. On 19th July 1946 he was jailed for 9 months with hard labour in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
On returning to civilian life, William was an engineer in Overton-on-Dee, Flintshire. He was recalled to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers for service in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps as a lieutenant on 15th May 1939. On 28th September he was promoted war substantive captain and temporary major, serving as Depuiter Chief Inspector Clothing Depot, Branston, Staffordshire. On 24th May 1940 he transferred to the Pioneer Corps as a war substantive captain from 15th May 1939. He took command of 177th Company on 15th August 1940 and 206th Company on 8th June 1941 in Northern Ireland. Lieutenant John O’Neill VC MM served under him. He relinquished command on 8th August 1944 and his commission on 23rd September 1945, having exceeded the age limit of liability to recall.
William died in Wrexham & East Denbighshire War Memorial Hospital, Wrexham on 12th May 1971. He was cremated at Pentrebychan Crematorium, Wrexham after a funeral service at St Mary’s the Virgin, Overton-on-Dee on 17th May. His ashes are buried under a gravestone near the entrance of Aldershot Military Cemetery, Hampshire. His wife was not able to attend as she was unwell. He has two VC commemorative stones at Comrie War Memorial, Comrie, Perthshire (unveiled 25th October 2018) and at St Martin’s War Memorial, Perth and Kinross (unveiled 28th October 2018).
In addition to the VC, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, War Medal 1939-45, Defence Medal, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 and French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Palme. The medals are held by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling Castle.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: ARGYLL&SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS MUSEUM, STIRLING
BURIAL PLACE: ALDERSHOT MILITARY CEMETERY, ALDERSHOT, HANTS. ASHES INTERRED.
Acknowledgements:
Thomas Stewart – Bissett VC Grave at Aldershot Military Cemetery
Kevin Brazier – Cemetery Map
Andy Wright – Medal group image Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling.