2nd Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
William John Kerr was the eldest son of Captain Russell James and Miriam Matilda Kerr of The Hale, Newnham-on-Severn. He was born in 1890 when his parents were living at Oakley Street, Chelsea. His father was a barrister.
He was educated at Bradfield College before going to Sandhurst from where he was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in 1909. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1912.
He landed in France with his battalion on 5 November 1914. He was wounded on 1 February 1915 and died at Boulogne on 10 March, aged 24 years.
Most unusually, his body was repatriated and laid to rest in the family plot in St Peter’s Churchyard, Newnham, on 18 March 1915. Lieutenant Kerr is commemorated on the War Memorial in the High Street at Newnham.
His younger brother Ralph Kerr CBE was Captain of HMS Hood and died in the action with the Bismarck on 24 May 1941.