Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Setchell, a railway drayman, born 1858 in Coates, Cambs., and his wife Fanny, born 1860 in Old Whittington, Derbys. John William was born in 1892 in Coalville, Leics., his siblings were, Harry, born 1889, Florrie, born 1895 and Herbert, born 1898, all his siblings were born in Coalville, Leics., in March 1901 the family home was at 39, Highfield Street, Coalville, Leics. In April 1911 John was employed as a mechanic and was residing as a boarder at 11, Berrisford Street, Coalville, Leics., together with his wife Maggie, born 1893 in Leicester. John and Maggie later moved to 41, Shelbourne Street, Coventry, Warwks. John, always known as Bill, attended the Wesleyan School on Belvoir Road, Coalville, he later enlisted into the 5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment around 1908, a little after this time he married a local girl Maggie with whom he had a son Charles William, at that time they were living in Highfield Street, Coalville, Leicestershire. At the outbreak of war, Bill was a Territorial soldier was at the annual training camp in Bridlington. Bill was wounded during his service on the Western Front and upon regaining his physical fitness was returned to the 10th Battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and it was with this unit when occupying trenches in the Ypres salient that he met his death. On Tuesday March 13th 1917 The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL CASUALTIES” – Private Setchell, of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps., son of Mr Wm. Setchell, Midland Railway drayman, of Coalville, has recently been killed in action. The deceased who was 25 years of age, leaves a wife and child, who reside at Coventry. He was Mr Setchell’s second son, and a brother is serving in the motor transport. Deceased before the war served in the Leicestershire Territorial’s, and in civil life was employed at Burgess’s elastic factory at Coalville. The 3rd April 1917 edition of the Leicester Mercury published the following under, ROLL OF HONOUR: Pte. William Setchell, K.R.R.C., killed in action. He was 25 years of age, and the second son of Mr. Wm. Setchell, Coalville. The article also carried a photograph.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday March 16th, 1917

LOCAL CASUALTIES

News has been received by Mr Wm. Setchell, Midland Railway drayman, and Mrs Setchell, of Highfields Street, Coalville, that their son, Pte. John Wm. Setchell, of the King’s Royal Rifles, was killed in action on February 28th.

Bugler A. Johnson, of the same regiment writes, “I am sorry to inform you of the death of your son, William. He was killed on February 28th by a piece of shrapnel through the head. He was buried decently and our chaplain was there, and read the burial service over him. He was well-liked by all his comrades, and you have their deepest sympathy. You can rest assured that he died a hero’s death.”

The deceased soldier was 25 years of age and before the war, worked at Messrs. Burgess and Son’s factory, Belvoir Road, Coalville. He had served four years in the Territorials before war broke out, and signed on for a fifth year – the memorable 1914 – so that he had been in the forces from the commencement, though he had only been in France about 8 months. He leaves a young widow and one child, who are residing at Coventry. The widow has received a letter from the deceased’s officer, notifying his death. Private J. W. Setchell was one of Mr T. Frith’s old boys, of the Belvoir Road School, and he was also a former Sunday School chorister at St. James’ Church, Snibston, where a memorial service is to be held next Sunday evening.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 23rd, 1917

MEMORIAL SERVICE

At St. James’ Church, Snibston, on Sunday evening, a memorial service for Private J. W. Setchell, recently killed in action, was conducted by the Rev. F. W. Atkins (vicar), who preached an appropriate sermon from the text, 1 Cor., 13c., 12v., “They shall I know even as also as I am known.” Suitable hymns were sung, “The Story of the Cross”, being rendered at the close. There was a good congregation.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 14th, 1919

PROPOSED MEMORIAL AND THANKSGIVING FUND

Meetings are being held throughout the Ashby Wesleyan Circuit, to consider the inauguration of a war memorial and thanksgiving fund, and there was a gathering for this purpose in the Coalville Wesleyan Chapel on Saturday night, when Mr C. H. March presided over a fairly good attendance.

The details of the scheme are set forth in a circular which is being issued, and of which the following is a copy.

“To celebrate the end of the ‘great war’ and the coming of ‘peace’ the quarterly meeting of the Circuit decided by a unanimous vote to inaugurate a great ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund.’ The nation in the hours of danger has not counted any sacrifice of blood or treasure too great to hasten the time when all that we hold dear should be made secure from an unscrupulous foe. That end has been achieved. The victory is ours. In token of our gratitude to Almighty God, we desire to raise this ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’ to enable the churches in this Circuit more efficiently to carry on, and extend the Kingdom of God. We suggest that contributions may be given as a thank-offering for loved ones spared, or in memory of dear ones who have laid down their lives for us. There are also large numbers in the Circuit, who, because of the importance of their work, have escaped the horrors of the battlefield, and will be able to give substantially in thankful recognition of their privileges. Everyone, indeed, has received great blessing through the ministry of our church, and the debt we owe to our beloved Methodism is greater than we can tell. Therefore, we earnestly appeal to all our people to give hearty and generous support to the ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’. The first claim upon the income of the fund will be the clearing of the debt upon the Circuit houses, which amounts to £1,000, thus saving £44 per year in interest. The remainder of the income will be held at the disposal of the Circuit quarterly meeting for the benefit of the work of God in the Circuit. – William Hooper, William H. Wardle, B.A., and William Solomon (ministers), J. P. Adcock, J. P. (treasurer); W. J. Plowright and C. H. March (secretaries).”

During the meeting, Mr T. Frith read the Roll of Honour, which contained 99 names formerly connected with the church and Sunday School. Two have won the D.C.M. – Harry Beard and Edwin Collier – and four the Military Medal, these being Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, George Wildgoose and Walter Lewis.

Twenty had made the supreme sacrifice – Cecil A. Bradshaw, Ernest Batho, Geo. Beale, Sydney Dodds, Walter Fantom, John Hall, Horace Hall, Jess Jones, Wilfred Jones, Fred Hart, Arthur Johnson, Walter Lewis, M.M., Harry Lewis, William Setchell, Sam Smith, Tom Usherwood, Willie Wells, Alf Wood, Albert Essex and Tom Wild.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 19/10/2017