Name
William John Wallis
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
202199
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
2nd/5th Bn
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 7
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
St Thomas Church, West Hyde
Pre War
William Wallis was born in Acton in 1898, son of John Edward
and Mary Gist Wallis. In 1901 they were living at 3 Allan Cottages, Hounslow,
Middlesex where his father John was employed as a builder’s manager. (Surname
given as Wallace). William had 3 older sisters and a younger brother. By 1911
they had moved to Troy Mill House, West Hyde, where John Wallis was described
as a builder and employer. All 5 children were still living at home and William
was at school, presumably St Thomas’s school in West Hyde.
Wartime Service
William attested on 6th June 1916, aged 18 years 7 months
and was originally in the Bedfordshire Regiment (no. 30075), later transferring
to the Sherwood Foresters. He gave his occupation as joiner’s apprentice and
was described as being 5ft 8in tall and weighing 121lb. The regiment embarked for France on 26th
February 1917. On March 21st 1918, the
2nd/5th Battalion were at Noreuil. A 4 hour bombardment was followed by an
attack by the enemy who took 8 hours to penetrate 2000 yards. The battalion was
eventually surrounded and cut off. Private Wallis was reported missing on 21
March 1918, presumed dead.
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
