Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Harry Fallows, a billposter, born on the 12th February 1869 in Leicester (son of Thomas William Fallows, 1838 and Emma Adcock, 1841) and his wife Mary Fallows (nee Laffar, married in the April quarter of 1888 in Leicester), born in the October quarter of 1866 in Woolwich, Kent (daughter of William Joseph Laffar, 1835-1900 and Emma Willmott, 1837-1871). William Edgar was born on the 22nd August 1890 in Leicester and baptised on the 10th June 1895 in St. George’s Church, Leicester, he had one sister, Emma, born on the 8th August 1888 in Leicester and baptised on the 10th June 1895 in St. George’s Church, Leicester, in April 1891 the family home was at 64, Upper Charles Street, St. George’s, Leicester.
In March 1901 William was residing in the family home at 115, Albert Road, St. John the Evangelist, Blackpool, Lancashire, together with his father, a billposter, his mother and siblings, Emma and Ellen Mabel, born on the 18th February 1893 in Leicester and baptised on the 10th June 1895 in St. George’s Church, Leicester.
In April 1911William was employed as a machine operator and was residing in the family home at 35, Ashby Road, Loughborough, Leicestershire, together with his father, now a billposting company manager and his siblings, Mabel, a hosiery trade over locker and Florence Mary, born on the 22nd October 1903 in Loughborough, also residing with the family was William’s widowed paternal grandmother, Emma Fallows, born in the July quarter of 1841 in Leicester, William’s mother was employed as a cardboard box maker and was residing at 2 Court H, Upper Charles Street, St. George’s, Leicester.
William’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 Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Corps of Royal Engineers. Sapper. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 25940.
Posted. To 91st Field Company. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 6/9/15.
Wounded in action. In the Field. Date not known.
Died of wounds. 7/2/16.
Buried in Bethune Town Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Headstone inscription. “Enough they murmur o’er my grave he like a soldier fell.”
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, William nominated his mother, Mary as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 1-Feb-16 – 7 Feb-16 – PHILOSOPHE. During this period there is no mention of casualties, and the only information recorded is that work was being undertaken in the vicinity of Philosophe, Mazingarbe, Grenay and Noux les Mines, much of which was trench repairs as well as some road clearance.
On the 13th December 1916, William’s mother Mary, of 2 Court H, Upper Charles Street, Leicester, was awarded an Army Dependant’s Gratuity, this was converted to a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of seven shillings on the 4th April 1917.
On Wednesday February 7th 1917, The Leicester Mercury published the following article under the heading. “BIRTHS, MARRIAGES AND DEATHS” – IN MEMORIAM. FELLOWS. - In loving remembrance of my dear son, Sapper W. E. Fellows, R.E., who died of wounds in France, Feb. 7th 1916. But though he died so far away. His memory is with his mother every day. From his loving Mother and Sister Flo.
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