Joseph Henry Willies
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Samuel Willies originated from Epperstone village, Nottinghamshire upon leaving school he became an apprentice joiner to Mr Wood at the nearby village of Woodborough. Following his apprenticeship he moved to work on The Welbeck Estate near Worksop and became the house carpenter at Welbeck Abbey . Samuel was born in 1845 and died in 1923 aged 78 and he married Elizabeth Machent (Bn 1845 - Died 1909 aged 55 yrs ) in 1877 . Throughout his employment on the estate he and his family lived at Creswell, Cuckney and finally Holbeck . Samuel and Elizabeth had a large family of ten children ;- Lillian Flora born 1877 (later became Lillian Capel) Joseph Henry born 1880 , Samuel George born 1882 , Violet Annie Mabel born 1884 (later became Violet Handley ) Sarah Bertha born 1886 (later became Sarah Tinker ) John William born 1889 , Francis born 1890, Ethel May born 1893 (later became Ethel Jarvis ) Arthur Charles born 1895 and Sidney Robert born 1898. In 1911 the family lived at Holbeck at this date eight of the ten children were living at home and Joseph was 31 years of age , single and a joiner by trade
Worksop Guardian 3rd November 1916. One of Four brothers Much uncertainty obtains concerning 44.479 Pte J Willies, 42nd Machine Gun Corps, eldest son of Mr S Willies respected household carpenter at Welbeck Abbey. Pte Willies and three other sons of Mr Willies, enlisted at the outbreak of the war, and he has been missing since Sept 16th last. It is with the hope that some of our readers in France will recognise him and will be able to send some information to his father and relatives at Holbeck, Welbeck, that we reproduce his photograph. They have already suffered bereavement, one son Signaller Arthur Willies, succumbing to his wounds received in action just a year ago. Joseph enlisted at Worksop on the 2nd September 1914 in the 4th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, number 14146. He was transferred to the 43rd Machine Gun Corps on 15th July 1916. He went to France on 19th August in the same year and was posted to the 39th Company, and was killed in an attack on Gird Trench, north-east of Flers. As there is no known grave he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He was 36 years of age.
Three brothers also served, Pte Frances Willies, Sherwood Foresters, served in France from 28th June 1915, Pte Samuel George Willies, 14th Hussars and Pte Arthur Charles Willies, critically wounded at Gallipoli, repatriated, died in hospital 24th September 1915 and is buried Norton Cuckney Churchyard. Information courtesy of Roger Caple
