No.10578, Guardsman, William WALLIS
Aged 27
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William WALLIS was born in Fornham All Saints in 1891 (Thingoe Q2-1891 4A:789) son of John and Caroline WALLIS (née ROGERS).
1901 census...Aged 9, he was at 12 Hengrave Road, Fornham All Saints with his father John WALLIS [42] shepherd; his mother Caroline [35] born Pakenham; sisters Florence E [11] and Lilly [8]; brother John [11].All except his mother were born in Fornham All Saints. 1911 census...Aged 19 a labourer, he was at Stockhold Green,Thurston with his parents (father now farm steward) and brother John, a labourer. Married to Kate BARKER in 1917, in 1922 she re-married, to William D. WOODS of 38, Troston, Bury St.Edmunds |
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He must have been a regular or at least a Reservist to have been in France as early as 12th August 1914. His legatee was his widow, Kate.
He died in No.46 Casualty Clearing Station, which must have been by then part of the Army Of Occupation in the Rhineland.He was a victim of the Spanish flu pandemic. The Bury Free Press of 8th March 1919 reported:- THURSTON SOLDIER DIES IN FRANCE We regret to record the death of Private Wm.Wallis, second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Wallis of Stockhold Green, Thurston, which occurred on January 6th from pneumonia in France. Pvt Wallis joined the 2nd battn, Coldstream Guards in February 1914, and the following August was sent overseas, coming through numerous engagements unscathed.On January 1st he was admitted into hospital in France suffering from influenza which quickly turned into pneumonia, and in spite of medical skills and nursing, he passed away six days later. His officer writes:-"Prvt Wallis was always cheery and most conscientious about his work under any conditions.". Much sympathy is felt for the young widow and other relatives in their bereavement.
photo:John Stokes, via www.rutlandremembers.org click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
