Bill enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery “L” Brigade. The RFA was the largest arm of the
artillery – it was responsible for the medium calibre guns and howitzers deployed close to the front
line and reasonably mobile. During WW1 a whole new form of artillery was developed to meet the
unusual conditions of war on the Western Front: the trench mortar. The lighter weapons being
manned by the infantry, the RFA provided the manpower for the heavier mortars. William was a
Lieutenant with Royal Field Artillery HQ 50th Bde. He was involved in action at Ledegem, which
formed part of the 2nd Army pushing the Germans back from Ypres (4th Battle of Ypres) and
around the top of Courtrai, across the river Lys and towards the river Scheldt, from 28th September
through October 1918. An extract from “The Orange Green and Khaki” by Tom Johnstone;
“Courtrai and the passage of Lys 14th and 15th October 1918. Zero hour was fixed for 05.35 on
14th October. There would be no preparatory bombardment. Under cover of a creeping barrage
29th Division, which included various divisions of the 2nd Army, began their advance towards the
Lys and achieved considerable success on the first day. In the first phase there was little resistance
but resistance increased in the afternoon. The 2nd Corp had as its first day objective the CourtraiRoulers railway but all three Divisions in the corps were delayed by wide wire belts and gas
shelling. After a good start they were eventually held up about a mile short of the objective, the
railway embankment , by serious resistance on the Steenbeek road”.
Three VC’s were won during the fighting in and around Ledegem. 2nd Lieut Robert Gorle of the
RFA won his during the fighting on 1st October and Private Martin Moffat and Private Thomas
Ricketts were both awarded theirs for heroism on the 14th October 1918. William Arthur Sweet
Escott was killed in action at Ledeghem while directing gunfire from a forward observation post.
He is buried at Dadizeele New British Cemetery.