Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Samuel Wills, a lime quarry worker, born on the 19th May 1860 in Everdon, Northamptonshire (son of Samuel Wills, 1819-1889 and Sarah Ann Loveday, 1827-1880) and his wife Anna (Hannah) Wills (nee Hall, married on the 20th June 1886 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire), born on the 30th August 1864 in Barrow upon Soar and baptised on the 1st September 1867 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar (daughter of William Hall, 1831-1909 and Mary Ann Sharp, 1834-1905). John William was born in the April quarter of 1891 in Barrow upon Soar, and was baptised on the 29th March 1891 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar, his siblings were, Samuel, born in the July quarter of 1887 and baptised on the 4th September 1887 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar and Florence Maud, born in the July quarter of 1889 and baptised on the 9th June 1889 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar, both his siblings were born in Barrow upon Soar, in April 1891 the family home was at Bill Hedges, Barrow upon Soar. In March 1901 John was residing in the family home at North Street, Barrow upon Soar, together with his father, a brickyard labourer, his mother and siblings, Samuel, a farm labourer, Florence and David, born on the 8th February 1893 in Barrow upon Soar and baptised on the 2nd April 1893 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar. In April 1911 John was employed as a concrete labourer and was residing in the family home at New Street, Barrow upon Soar together with his father, a concrete labourer, his mother and siblings, Samuel, a lime trade burner, Florence, a hosiery trade linker, David, a hosiery trade yarn room labourer, Ellen, born in the July quarter of 1901 and baptised on the 15th September 1901 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar, Percy, born 15th September 1902 and baptised on the 26th October 1902 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar, Harold, born on the 12th May 1905 and baptised on the 25th June 1905 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar and Morris (Maurice), born 15th May 1907 and baptised on the 28th July 1907 in Holy Trinity Church, Barrow upon Soar, the latter four siblings were all born in Barrow upon Soar. The family later resided at 16, Church Street, Barrow upon Soar. John was a member of the Church of England Men’s Society.
John’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Loughborough, Leicestershire, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 16408.
Posted. To 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France on the 27/5/15.
Killed in action. In the Field. 25/9/15.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, John nominated his father, Samuel as his sole legatee.
A subsequent enquiry made on behalf of the family by the Reverend T. Stone of The Vicarage, Barrow upon Soar to the Prisoners of the First World War, the International Committee of the Red Cross, on the 26th January 1916 confirmed that John was not held as a Prisoner of War.
On the 17th June 1919, John’s mother Hannah was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of five shillings, payable from the 6th November 1918, upon her death, the Pension was transferred to John’s widowed father, Samuel.
The War Diary records: 25 Sept-15 - At 5.30am the Battalion was in positions of readiness in accordance with orders in four lines opposite their objective with bombing parties, sandbag parties and carrying parties all arranged and in position. At 6.00am the first line got over the parapet quickly followed by the second, the left had to right form to get in line with the right as the trench ran back from a salient near the centre. As the first two lines went out the third and fourth filed into the vacant positions in the firing line. The gas affected a number of our men, and the smoke caused a dense fog and direction was difficult. Casualties began at once and the third line was ordered out to fill up gaps. Owing to the thick smoke it seemed likely that gaps would occur on the flanks and at 6.07am the fourth line was sent out with special instructions to maintain touch with the units on either flank. At about 6.10am the left were over the German parapet and our flag was seen flying on their lines. The left went forward with such dash that they outstripped the 2/8th GURKHAS and came in for a lot of fire from rifles and maxim guns from our right. This caused a good many casualties including all the officers and most of the NCOs of “A” Company which was the extreme left. Undeterred the men went on, got over the uncut wire and reached the road with parties of the 2/8th GURKHAS and gained their objective. In the meantime, our right had not fared so well. They went forward in good line under a heavy fire till held up by the German wire. A number of our men here were collected in the ditch in front of the German wire waiting for developments. Officer casualties. Killed Captain F. H. ROMILLY D.S.O., Captain E. C. DEANE, R.A.M.C. Died of wounds 2nd Lieutenant M. W. BROWNE. Wounded Lieutenant Colonel H. GORDON D.S.O., Captain W. C. WILSON, Lieutenant H. H. PHILLIPS, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. TANNER, 2nd Lieutenant H. H. HEMPHILL, 2nd Lieutenant V. E. ELLINGHAM, 2nd Lieutenant C. C. BAILEY, 2nd Lieutenant G. W. GROSSMITH. Slightly wounded Major F. LEWIS, Captain D. L. WEIR. Gassed 2nd Lieutenant W. WILSON. Missing and believed killed Lieutenant W. T. PICKIN, 2nd Lieutenant R. E. S. LODGE. Missing known to have been wounded 2nd Lieutenant C. G. WOODBOURN. Missing and no trace 2nd Lieutenant W. J. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant E. A. WILKINSON, 2nd Lieutenant T. R. LONGCROFT. Rank and file casualties. Killed 72. Wounded 217. Gassed 42. Missing 96. Wounded slightly but did not quit Battalion 3. What was left of the Battalion were relieved from the front line by the 2/39th GARWHAL RIFLES at 6.30pm and moved into support and local reserve just in rear. Before the operations began the Battalion worked for a week in strengthening the front line and preparing the defences behind. Four very strong lines were constructed capable of resisting the enemy’s bombardment.
On Wednesday, November 17th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – BARROW’S ROLL OF HONOUR. - The following is a list of casualties amongst men who belong to Barrow: –
Killed: Colonel M. V. Hilton, Captain Halliday, Private’s Frank Towe, G. Lovett, Frank Newby, Fred Pepper.
Missing: Private’s John Smith, David Whitehouse, J. W. Wills.
Wounded: Lieutenant J. Wright, Lieutenant F. Cresswell, Sergeant H. Jacques, Sergeant Bob Perkins, Private’s A. Cook, A. Newby, A. Harby, W. Newby, J. H. Taylor, R. Whitehead, A. Sutton, C. Heaps, H. Lord, H. Marlow, H. Hartshorn, Frank Pepper, G. Witham, W. Witham, T. Kirkby, W. Wright, W. Waring, A. Evans, C. Friday, H. Talbot, O. Sleeman, Aerial-Pilot W. James.
Private J. W. WILLS, reported wounded and missing, is the son of Private Sam Wills, who was in the battle of Majuba Hill in 1881, and who re-joined the Army some time ago. Private J. W. Wills joined the 4th Battalion at the commencement of the war, but was transferred some little time ago to the 2nd Battalion. His parents reside in New-street, Barrow-on-Soar.
On Monday, November 29th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private J. W. WILLS, B Company, 2nd Leicester’s, Indian Expeditionary Force, has been missing since October 13th, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. S. Wills, New-street, Barrow-on-Soar, would naturally be glad of tidings of him.
On Thursday, December 2nd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. – LEICESTER’S FALLEN AND MISSING. - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. J. W. WILLS, 2nd Leicester’s, missing since Oct. 13th. His friends reside at Barrow.
On Friday December 3rd 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – MISSING BARROW SOLDIER. Private J. W. Wills, B Company 2nd Leicester’s, Indian Expeditionary Force, has been missing since October 13th, and his parents Mr. and Mrs. S. Wills, New-street, Barrow on Soar would naturally be glad of tidings of him.
On Friday December 22nd 1916, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BARROW SOLDIER KILLED.” – Mr. and Mrs. J. Wills, of New-street, Barrow on Soar, have been officially informed that their son. Pte. J. W. Wills, has been killed in action. Previous to enlisting Pte. Wills was employed by Messrs. M. Wright and Sons, Quorn.