George Wills Biography Killed in Action 1915

George Wills died Gallipoli 28th April 1915

25 April 2017

20:01

Private George Wills

8907 W Company

2nd Battalion Royal Hampshire Regiment

1893 -1915

George Wills born Newport 9th October 1893.

He was the 8th of 9 children born to Edward Wills and his wife Alice Toogood. George being a name used by the Wills family for at least 3 generations.

1901 Census

2 Green Street, Newport

Edward Wills 44 Head Tailor Own account working at home.

Alice 42 Wife

Edward 23 Son Baker

Annie 16 Dau Domestic Servant

Ernest 12 Son

Bertha 9 Dau

George 6 Son

Charles 4 Son

Beatrice 19 Domestic Servant in Devon

Alice 22 Servant in Shirley, Southampton

Ada born & died 1887

School records show that George attended Barton Board School and Newport Board School. His age on his school records does not tally with the date of the civil registration of his birth. This also occurs with other members of his family.

There is not any evidence of his job before he joined the Army. 

On the 1911 Census George is listed as a Private in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Hampshire Regiment. He is living in barracks at Winchester. He is 17 years old and his birthplace is given as Newport, Isle of Wight. His service records have not survived but his service number suggests he enlisted early in 1911.

In 1911 George’s parents were living at separate addresses. Edward is still listed as a tailor, but is now living at 4 Lower Lukely Place, Carisbrooke Rd, Newport. Alice, a laundress, is living in the High St at Carisbrooke. Their youngest son Charles is with her along with Bertha (now Mrs Pegg).

“Soldiers Died in the Great War” shows that George enlisted at Parkhurst, IOW giving both his birthplace and residence as Carisbrooke.

Private George Wills 8907 of W Company, 2nd Bn, Hampshire Regiment was killed in action at Gallipoli on 28th April 1915. He does not have a known grave.

Announcements in Local Press

Isle of Wight County Press 19th June 1915

Wills - Killed in action at the Dardanelles, George Wills 2nd Hants

Wills - Killed in action at the Dardanelles, George Wills 2nd Hants Regiment, the dearly-loved son of Mr & Mrs Wills of Portland Street, Newport aged 21 years 7 months.

George’s name is commemorated on the Helles Memorial Turkey. On the Isle of Wight his name is on the Newport War Memorial and recorded in the Chapel of St Nicholas, Carisbrooke.

He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-15 Star.

Before embarking for Gallipoli George wrote a final letter to his mother dated 9th March 1915. In this he included his final wishes should he not return. This letter was eventually made available to his family in August 2013.

A copy of George's final letter and further notes about its content can be seen to the right of this page.➜

Transcript of George’s Final Letter

  

9 - 3 - 15    

8907         

W   Coy

2nd Hants Regt

Warwickshire

My Dear Mother,

I am taking the pleasure of writing you these few lines hoping they will find you and all at home in the best of health and to let you know that I am still in England as you can see by address. Well Mother I see Ned have joined and I hope he will like it. I expect will soon get used to it for it is an easy life. I heard from Ern and he is quite alright. You have received the Alottment I believe, will you write and let me know how much you receive and I shall know what to sign for, and of course when I go to the front anything that is due to me I am leaving to you if anything should happen to me and I dont come back. Well Mother I think you can understand so will close with fond love

From yours

loving

son

George

x x x x x x x x x

x x x x x

Family members mentioned in the letter.

Mother: Alice Wills nee Toogood 1857 - 14th September 1947. My great grandmother.

George: George Wills 9th October 1893 - 28th April 1915

Ned: Edward William James Wills 1878 - 1962

Ern: Ernest Wills 6th June 1888 - 13th August 1963. My grandfather.

Although George‘s family had been living on the Isle of Wight since at least 1700 the 20th Century saw some of them moving to the mainland.

On the 1939 Register George's mother Alice was living in Southampton

with  her  son Charles. Charles had added the name George to his. It is

the first time this appears. During the Blitz  Alice remained in 

Southampton. She died  there in September 1947. The information on 

her death certificate suggests she was living with her eldest daughter

also named Alice. I think George’s father Edward Wills died on the

Isle of Wight in 1937.

George’s brother Edward lived for a short time in Poole. Two of his sons were born there in 1904 and 1905 . He had returned to the island by 1906 when his third son was born.

Alice Wills (the younger) married three times. Her name becoming Dunford, Dilrew and finally Joyce. Her children by Frederick Dunford were born in Southampton. She may also have lived in Winchester with her second husband. She died in Southampton ten years after her mother .

In 1901 Beatrice was working as a laundry maid in Bicton, Devon. She married in Southampton in 1908. Beatrice can be found in Southampton on the 1911 Census under her married name of Pringle.

George’s brother Ernest left the Isle of Wight in 1906 to join the Royal Navy. He married Elsie Webb in Portsmouth in 1910. Ernest and Elsie’s second son was born in August 1919. He was named after his great uncles. Albert Victor Webb who died at Ypres in 1917 and George Wills. Albert George Wills passed away in 2007. My uncle was always very proud to tell people he was named after the uncles he never had the opportunity to meet.