William Stilwell Mallender
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Mildred Mallender had been born in Worksop in 1868 and lived at Lady Lee with her family for most of her life. Her mother died in 1884 aged 37. When Mildred was 22, she had a child, William Stilwell Malender in 1890 and another named Fred Mallender in 1896. By 1901, the Mallender household at Lady Lee comprised of Mildred and her brother, her widower father who was head of the house and Mildred’s 2 children, William Stilwell and Fred Mallender In 1902, Mildred married Tom Taylor of Low Town Street, Worksop. The couple had 3 children before 1911, Emma, Elsie and John. After the war being declared, Mildred’s son, William and her husband, Tom, both joined the colours, son William being killed in 1916 and her husband Tom, a year later in May 1917.
Pte William S Mallender Worksop Guardian 14 January 1916 “Among the first to answer the call at the outbreak of war was Pte William S Mallender, eldest son of Mrs Taylor of Woodend, Shireoaks and the regrettable news of his death, shot through the head on New Years Day, and killed instantly, has just been received. With others from Shireoaks Colliery, he joined the 7th Batt. Leicester Regiment and was sent out after twelve months training. During the interim, his letters to his mother have been bright and cheery at all times, and the last one he wrote to her was dated December 27th. In it he said:- “I received your parcel of fags all right on Christmas morning, just as I came out of the trenches, and was very thankful of them. They made me a good Christmas box. Well, it happened to be our luck to be pout of the trenches for Christmas, and we had a very good time of it. We had a good dinner and tea and a concert at night to finish up with. I was surprised to hear that Fred (his brother) has enlisted. I saw Wilfred Bush the other night and he told me their Len had enlisted as well in the RFA group, so I hope Fred has gone in the RFA as well, so that they will be together as pals should be. I have not received any parcel from Shireoaks yet, .. I think this is all this time – from your loving son, Willie, P.S. And I wish you all a Happy New Year.” The parcel mentioned he received before going into the trenches for the last time, for on New Years Day, he was shot through the head and killed instantly. The news first reached Shireoaks in a letter from Pte Harold Beardmore (Shireoaks), who was in the same Company, and the next day Mrs Taylor had a letter from the Chaplain, who buried her son on January 3rd. The Chaplain expected she would hear from her son’s officer telling how it happened, and sympathised with her in her loss. Pte Mallender, who had spent the greater part of his life at Lady Lea, was 25 years of age and his quiet and unassuming nature made him many friends, and might have led one to expect others of a more combative type of character than has to have responded before him to the call of the country. We cannot do better than re-echo the prayer of the Chaplain who sent the sad news, “May he rest in peace.”
CWG additional information:- Son of Mrs. M. Taylor, of 6, Wood End, Worksop. Cemetery:- Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France. Research by Colin Dannatt
