Frank Leslie Willett
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Frank Leslie Willett was born in 1899 at Hucknall and was the son of Abraham a coal miner stallman and Elizabeth Willett née Nettle of 35 Yorke Street, Hucknall His father Abraham was born in 1858 at Breedon and his mother Elizabeth Nettle was born in 1863, they were married in 1887 their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration district, they went on to have 6 childrern, sadly two died in infancy or early childhood, their surviving children were Annie E, b1890 Arthur W b1892 Charles Douglas b1895 and Frank Leslie Willett b1899 all were born in Hucknall In the 1911 census the family lived at 35 South Street, Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire and were shown as Abrah 53 yrs a coal miner stallman, he is living with his wife Elizabeth 48 yrs and their children, Anne 21 yrs an elementary school teacher, Arthur 19 yrs a stationary engine driver, Charles 16 yrs an assistant bath attendant and Frank Leslie 12 yrs a scholar. His parents later moved to 35 Yorke Street Hucknall.
Private Leslie Willett enlisted in Hucknall and served with the service number 79572 with the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, later transferring to 1st Garrison Battalion, Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment). He died in Valetta Hospital, Malta, of double pneumonia and was buried in the Pieta Military Cemetery on the island (grave ref. B. XX. 1).
An unidentified Major from his battalion wrote a letter to his parents at 35 Yorke Street, Hucknall which was published in the Hucknall Dispatch on 5th December 1918:- “It is with deep regret that I undertake the said duty re behalf of myself and the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of my company, to which your late son belonged, to express the universal regret of his death. I need hardly tell you that the news was so severe a shock to us, we having no idea that his illness was so serious. He passed peacefully away, his death being caused by double pneumonia. He was buried with full military honours on November 5 at Pieta Cemetery. There were some wreaths from the officers and men… He was much respected by all of us, and will be much missed.” Above courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. His brother Charles enlisted at Hucknall and served with the 1st Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps and went to France on 27th May 1915. He died at Mount Dore Military Hospital Bournemouth on 21st November 1916 and is buried at Hucknall Cemetery Grave Reference: A South 304 His other brother Lance Corporal Arthur Willett served with the, 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps, who enlisted on 6th January 1915. Twice wounded, once in the head and later in the thigh, which led to his discharge on 13th March 1917.
