William Piper
- Family History
- Military History
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William Piper was born in 1891 at Kirkby and was the son of of Thomas Piper. William married Minnie Brealey (born November 1894) in 1913 at Mansfield. They had three children, William born September 1912, Samuel born September 1914 (died October 1916) and Minnie born March 1916. They lived at 41 Sandy Lane, Mansfield. Following William's death his widow was awarded a pension of 20 shillings and 6 pence a week which commenced on 26th October 1916. Minnie married Thomas Abbott in October 1917.
Private William Piper enlisted at Mansfield and served with the 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters. He landed in France on 26th August 1915 and was killed in action at The Bluff on 14th February 1916. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
William may have been the younger brother of Thomas Piper (born/resident Kirkby in Ashfield) who served with the Chatham Bn. Royal Marines Light Infantry (CH/6 Private, formerly Sherwood Foresters) and died at Chatham Royal Naval Hospital on 9 January 1915. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC: 'Son of Thomas Piper; husband of Minnie Abbott (formerly Piper), of 41, Sandy Lane, Mansfield.' Mansfield Reporter, ‘Deaths’, 3 November 1916: ‘On the 27th ult., Samuel, son of Mrs Piper, Sandy-lane, Mansfield, aged 2 years.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 12 January 1917: ‘Harbouring Absentee Soldiers. Warning to Mansfield People. Minnie Piper, a soldier’s widow, residing at 41, Sandy-lane, Mansfield, was charged before the local magistrates with knowing that certain soldiers were absentees, and that she concealed them in her house on January 6th. Pc Turton stated that he visited the house at midnight in company with a military sergeant and found there two soldiers who were absentees,. One had been away from camp since December 20th, and the other from 9.30 that night. The military sergeant corroborated … The Inspector [Insp. Dye who had visited the house the following day] added that one of the soldiers was supposed to be keeping company with her [Mrs Piper] ... The Supt. Of Police said this harbouring of absentee soldiers was a very serious matter. There were many people in Mansfield doing that kind of thing, and causing endless enquiries to be made. The Mayor, as this was the first case of the kind that had been brought before them, said the defendant would be leniently treated, but she and others must understand that if any other defendants came before the Court they would be severely dealt with. Conviction would mean imprisonment and not a fine. The case was dismissed.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, ‘Marriages’, 12 October 1917: ‘At the same time and place [St Peter’s Church, Mansfield], by the Rev. WJ Betson, Thomas Abbott of Barnsley, to Minnie Piper, of Mansfield.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
