Name
John Robert Willis
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
John Willis was born on 19th December 1881 at Newcastle upon Tyne. He was one of five sons born to Frank and Ann Willis. In the 1891 Census Frank was listed working as a Glasshouse Labourer.
By 1901 John had moved from the family home and in the Census he was listed lodging with Charles and Alice Nation at Bridge Road, East Moseley, Surrey. Charles worked as an Ostler, and John was employed as a Groom.
John married Alice Stead at Chesterton, Cambridgeshire in the summer of 1908. Their first son, Eric was born at Abbots Langley in 1909, so it is presumed that the family moved to the local area around this time. In the 1911 Census John was listed employed by the Metropolitan Asylum Board as a Painter’s Labourer. The family, which then included a second son, lived at 1 Marlin Terrace, Breakspear Road, Abbots Langley.
John was recorded for the first time in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in July 1916, serving with the 8th Battalion of the Northamptonshire Regiment. The National Roll of the Great War noted that he had volunteered in February 1915, and after training served at various stations until he was sent to Salonika in November 1916, by which time he had transferred to the King’s Own Royal Lancaster’s. The National Roll continued to note that he fought in many engagements on the Vardar and Doiran fronts, and was in action in the final Allied Advance.
He was listed in the Absent Voter Records for Abbots Langley for Autumn 1918, and gave his address as 37 Adrian Road, Abbots Langley. The National Roll indicated that he returned to England and was demobilised in January 1919.
John Willis survived the War.
Additional Information
Formerly 8th Battalion Northampton Regiment
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
