William Wealthall
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
The CWGC record gives the address of his widow, GM Wealthall, as New Basford [Nottingham] but according to a report of William's death in a local newspaper in December 1945, his home was at 73 Abbey Bridge, Lenton.
William was born in 1912 (reg. JAS Nottingham, mother's maiden name Goldsbury). His date of birth was recorded on the 1939 Register as 22 July 1912.
It is likely that his widow, GM Wealthall, was Gladys May Wealthall (née Dilks b. 1912), whom he married in 1933 (reg. JAS Nottingham). They probably had two children, Brenda L. birth registered 1934 (JFM) and Raymond b. 1937.
In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, William, a public works contractor's labourer, and Gladys were living at 282 Carlton Road, Nottingham. The records of two other members of the family remain closed and were probably those of their children Brenda and Raymond. Also in the household were a married couple, William and Nellie Timmins.
Gladys May probably married John H Morley in 1945 (OND Nottingham).
Fusilier William Wealthall, 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, died on 22 April 1942 in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp in Burma (now Myanmar).
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial (Face 12) which stands in Taukkyan War Cemetery on the outskirts of Yangon (formerly Rangoon), Myanmar.
The 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers was serving in India on the outbreak of the Second World War and flown to Burma in 1942 after the fall of Singapore to the Japanese army and the surrender of British & Australian forces on 15 February.
Casualty List No 1019 (Soldiers and Auxiliaries) (This list contains all casualties reported to the War Office Casualty Branch for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m 30th December 1942) Expeditionary Forces. Burma. 'Missing. 1st Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (8 names) 6983140 Weathall Fus. W. date not reported. [note 5 casualties date not reported, 3 casualties 18/19 April 1942).'
Casualty List No. 1956 (Soldiers and Auxiliaries. (This list contains all casualties reported to the War Office Casualty Branch for the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. 10th January 1946) Expeditionary Forces (contd.). Burma. 'Previously reported Missing now reported Died whilst Prisoner of War. 1st Bn. Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers. 6983140 Wealthall Fus. 84564 W. Previous list 1019, d. 22 April 1942 (Missing – Date not reported).'
His widow, GM [Gladys May] Wealthall, was probably the daughter of KX/278 AB William Dilks, Howe Bn. Royal Naval Division (formerly Northumberland Fusiliers), who was killed in France on 13 November 1916. (See record on this Roll of Honour).
CWGC Additional information: Husband of G. M. Wealthall, of New Basford, Nottinghamshire.
Nottingham Evening Post, 6 December 1945: ‘Local Jottings … Fus. W. Wealthall Inniskilling Fusiliers, of 73, Abbey Bridge, Lenton, is reported to have died from exhaustion in a Burma prison camp on April 22nd, 1942.’ (www.britishnewspaperachive.co.uk)
Photo of William Wealthall
Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar (www.cwgc.org)