William Henry Plant was born at 7 Riley Street Burslem on the 23rd February 1896 to parents William Seddons Plant born Burslem c1861 and Elizabeth Kettle born Burslem 26 Oct 1862. William Seddons was already a widow, having married Annie Smith in 1886. He and Elizabeth nee Kettle married at St Pauls Church, Burslem on the 4th August 1895. They would have two sons William Henry and George Leverson born 16th January 1898 at Burslem. 

The 1901 census shows the family living at 12 Moore Street, Burslem where William's father is a Potters Slip Maker aged 40, Elizabeth is on home duties, William is aged 5 and George aged 3. Also present are Sarah Kettle aged 61 and Betsy Kettle aged 31 a Potters Dipper. 

The 1911 census shows the family living at 40 High Street, Burslem where William's father is now aged 50 and employed as a Slipmaker. Elizabeth is 48 on home duties. William is a 15 year old Apprentice China Caster and George is at school.

By the 4th January 1915 William Henry attested to full military service, he stated he was with the territorial force of the North Staffordshire Regiment. He carried service number 3972 which he retained and entered the ranks of the 5th battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment. His service records survive and tell us he was 5’8” tall and of good health. He is living at 40 High Street, Burslem and is a Potter at Messrs Doulton. 

On the 2nd of April 1915 his father William Seddons Plant died of Bronchitis and heart failure at 40 High Street Smallthorne, aged 54 his occupation Potters Slip Maker. 

William Henry was sent to France on the 18th August 1915 and was killed in action 2 months later on the 13th October 1915. 

The battalion war diary tells us that they were in front line positions on the day William was killed but it provides nothing to indicate how. It does tell us that during the period 8th October 1915 to 15th October 1915 the battalion suffered 66 ordinary ranks killed, 223 wounded and 196 missing. They were in the Loos sector and very much involved in the serious fighting at the Hohenzollern Redoubt.

He is remembered on the Loos Memorial panel 103-105 and the Royal Doulton Kilngate Memorial.

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

WW1 pension cards reveal the issue of a pension in the amount of 5 shillings per week.

A number of articles concerning William appeared in the Staffordshire Sentinel, most notably the 5th November 1915, 15th November 1915 and the 29th January 1916, where his family are informed of his death, he is mentioned by name confirming his date of death and that he had worked at Royal Doulton, Burslem.

PTE. W. PLANT, SMALLTHORNE.

Mrs. Plant, of 40, High-street, Smallthorne, received official notification on Thursday morning that her son, Pte. William Plant (3972), 1st-5th North Staffords, was killed in action on October 13th. He was formerly employed at Messrs. Doulton's, Ltd., as a china caster, and was 19 years of age. He was an official of the Salem United Methodist Sunday School and a member of the Young Men's Institute.

SMALLTHORNE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

At the United Methodist Church on Sunday evening, a memorial service was conducted by the Rev. J. Payne (circuit superintendent minister) for Private William Henry Plant, of the 1st-5th North Staffords, who was killed in action in France on October 13th. The minister preached an eloquent sermon from the words, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now (John xvi., 12). Appropriate remarks were made concerning the one in whose memory the service was held, and also of Private Albert Harris, of the Royal Fusiliers, a former scholar of the Salem Sunday School. The choir rendered the anthem, "Sun of my soul," and the organist played "O rest in the Lord." The service was very impressive.

William's brother George also served in the Army during WW1 as 35299 Private North Staffordshire Regiment and 599708 Private George Leverson Plant, Labour Corp, Home Service Company. He enlisted on the 9th February 1917. He was discharged on the 11th March 1919 with Synovitis of the right knee. He earned the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge.

The 1921 census shows George Levison Plant, Single Age 23 Years 5 Months living at 40 High St, Smallthorne, Staffordshire working as Boiler Fireman for Sneyd Collieries Co Ltd. Living with his widowed mother Elizabeth aged 58.

The 1939 register shows George was married to Gladys née Taylor; they had married in 1923. They were still living at 40 High Street, Burslem with his mother Elizabeth Plant. There is a redacted file on the 1939 register possibly their daughter Gertrude E. Plant born 1924. 

George Leverson Plant died in Smallthorne Stoke On Trent 17 Oct 1970. 

Sources.

• Parents marriage: Ancestry.com. England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
• W.H. Plant Fold3, UK, WWI, Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923 : accessed 11 Apr 2026), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/1019/uk-wwi-pension-ledgers-and-index-cards-1914-1923
• W.H.Plant Forces War Records, UK, WWI, British Army Medal Roll Index Cards, 1914-1920 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/932/uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920 : accessed 11 Apr 2026), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/932/uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19151115/090/0004 
• https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000347/19151105/092/0004
• W.S.Plant : FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
• 1901 Class: RG13; Piece: 2597; Folio: 53; Page: 42.
• 1911The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911
• 1921 The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; 1921 Census Returns; Reference: RG 15/12761, ED 7, Sch 135; Book: 12761
• 1939.The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/5279J 
• G.L.Plant Western Front Association; London, England; WWI Pension Record Cards and Ledgers; Reference: 427/06mp
• G.L.Plant Forces War Records, UK, WWI, British Army Pension Records, 1914-1920 (https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/950/uk-wwi-british-army-pension-records-1914-1920 : accessed 11 Apr 2026), database and images, https://uk.forceswarrecords.com/publication/950/uk-wwi-british-army-pension-records-1914-1920
• G.L.Plant Fold3, UK, WWI, British Army Medal Roll Index Cards, 1914-1920 (https://www.fold3.com/publication/932/uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920 : accessed 11 Apr 2026), database and images, https://www.fold3.com/publication/932/uk-wwi-british-army-medal-roll-index-cards-1914-1920
• G.L.Plant.Principal Probate Registry; London, England; Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England
• https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1766850/william-plant/
• STAFFORDSHIRE SENTINEL 5.11.1915, 15.11.1915, 29.01.1916.