Private Wilfred Reid Battersby was born in 1892, in Rotherham, Yorkshire. He first joined the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in April 1915, in Retford, where he had the regimental number of 3136. He was 5ft 5 ¾ tall and had been a Fruit Market trader prior to enlisting.  

Wilfred served with the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry in France initially between the 29th of February 1916 to the 14th of November 1916.  

In February 1917, Wilfred was invalided to England with pneumatic fever. He was sent to the Military Hospital Endell Street and whilst there was furloughed on the 12th of March 1917. Wilfred completed his recovery at the Convalescent Hospital E division Eastbourne, between March and May 1917. He was given a few days of leave after he was deemed fit for active service overseas, to visit his home in Hexthorpe, near Doncaster. 

Wilfred was then transferred to join The Sherwood Foresters 5th Battalion on the 21st of May 1917. He would transfer again, on the 9th of June, to the 11th Battalion. Wilfred spent some time with the 11th in France, before further transferring to the Labour Corps and gaining a new regimental number, 405694. However, Wilfred was later transferred back to the 11th Foresters, with his original number, to serve in Italy (where the Battalion had moved to in November 1917). 

It was with the 11th Battalion that Wilfred was awarded the Military Medal (MM), for gallantry. The London Gazette of the 29th of August 1918 reported: ‘When on a fighting patrol on the night of 29/30th March 1918, at Morar, near Granazza, Italy, which had gone out some 1500 yards in front of our line in search of the enemy, these men displayed conspicuous initiative and gallantry in rounding up a strong enemy post and in driving them out of some fortified houses where they had taken refuge, and had endeavored to put up a fight. Their conduct greatly contributed to the success of the patrol, which inflicted many casualties and brought back three prisoners. (others in the patrol also awarded M.M. were 204618 Pte W.H. Hancock, 18902 L/Cpl W. Oscroft, 95876 Pte F.H. Jones,)’. 

 On Armistice Day, 11th of November 1918, Wilfred was on leave from the 11th  Battalion. He was discharged on the 23rd of January 1919.