Main CPGW Record
Surname: WILLAN
Forename(s): John Wilson
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: 2455
Rank: L/Corporal
Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 1/6th Battalion
Division: 49th (West Riding) Division
Age: 23
Date of Death: 1915-12-20
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: III. A. 28.
CWGC Cemetery: LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY
CWGC Memorial: ---
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
John Wilson Willan was the son of George Wilson and Elizabeth Willan, née Mattock. George, born at Skipton, was the son of John William and Ellen Willan. Elizabeth, born at Skipton, was the daughter of William and Harriet Mattock, née Read.
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 24, Gladstone Street - John W. Willan, aged 8 years, born Skipton, son of George W. and Elizabeth Willan.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 29, Otley Street - John Wilson Willan, aged 18 years, born Skipton, son of George Wilson and Elizabeth Willan.
The British Army Service Record for John Wilson Willan exists but may be incomplete.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte John W. Willan, 2455, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 14.4.15. D. of W. 20.12.15.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte John Wilson Willan, 6/2455, 1/6 W. Rid. R. D. of W. 20.12.15.
See also: ‘Guiseley Terriers: A Small Part in The Great War – A History of the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment’ by Stephen Barber (2018).
Photograph: 'Yorkshire Rugby Football Union – In Memoriam 1914-19'.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
WILLAN, Lance Corporal John Wilson, 6th Duke of Wellington’s, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Willan, Otley Street, [Skipton], formerly in accountant’s office, Skipton U.D.C., secretary of Water Street Wesleyan Sunday School, died from gas poisoning Dec. 20, 1915.
---
Click the thumbnail below to view a larger image.
L/Corporal John Wilson WILLAN
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 49th (West Riding) Division
---
---
View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
24 December 1915
WILLAN – Killed in action, in France, December 19th, John Wilson Willan, second son of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Willan, Skipton, aged 23 years.
Free from sorrow, free from sin,
With God eternally shut in.
24 December 1915
CRAVEN'S DEATH ROLL – LANCE-CORPORAL J. W. WILLAN
The painfully sad news of the death of Lance-Corpl. John Wilson Willan, of the 1st 6th Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, second son of Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Willan, Otley Street, Skipton, reached his house on Tuesday night in the form of a telegram from York. The cause, officially verified as gas poisoning, and the date, Sunday last, December 19th. The deceased soldier was overcome by a gas wave from the German lines in France, and was conveyed in the hospital train to the stationary hospital at St. Omer, dead.
Lance-Corporal Willan was one of several ‘pals’ in Skipton who enlisted shortly after the war broke out, and proceeded with his regiment to the Front after the prescribed period of training. He was transferred to the machine gun section, and remained attached thereto until the end. His training in the Skipton Cadet Corps – of which he was an officer – made his services more than ordinarily valuable, and he was held in high esteem by his officers and fellow campaigners. A young man of lofty ideals, sterling character, pluck and perseverance, he made friends wherever he went, and the penalty he has been called upon to pay in the service of his King and Country is sincerely mourned by a wide circle of friends in Skipton and the district. He was originally in the service of the Skipton Urban District Council in the Accountant’s department, but afterwards entered his father’s business at the Craven Boot Warehouse.
The deceased soldier was prominently connected with the Skipton Wesleyan Sunday School, where he had filled several offices, including that of secretary.
A sad feature of his end is that his fiancé arrived from Belfast on Wednesday morning in the hope of meeting him at his home in Skipton some time during the holidays. In a letter received from him last week, Lance-Corporal Willan informed his parents that he was then in the trenches for a spell of 32 days’ change, part of which he had spent in the reserve and part in the gun school. He anticipated spending Christmas in France, but hoped to get home (for the first time since crossing the Channel) early in the New Year.
The deceased soldier was 23 years of age. The sympathy of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances is extended to the bereaved family in their painfully sad affliction.
This brings the total deaths of those who have done duty for their country from the Skipton district to over 150.
31 December 1915
THE LATE LANCE-CORPORAL WILLAN
Lieut. Ralph M. Robinson, of the 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, Clipstone Camp, writing to Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Willan, Skipton, whose son, Lance-Corporal J. Wilson Willan, died from gas poisoning in Flanders on the 20th inst., says:–
“I cannot tell you how deeply grieved I am at the sad news from Flanders, or how much I sympathise with you all. I need hardly say that your son was one of the best and most reliable soldiers in the excellent machine gun section I had the honour to command. No amount of shelling or other danger ever flurried him in the slightest, and I shall never know how much I owed to his excellent influence with the others.
“Your son was apparently in command of a gun in the front line where the cloud of gas came thickest. It is a difficult thing to move a machine gun with its ammunition in a muddy trench, and if it [is] once removed it is almost impossible to carry it back to its emplacement in time to meet an attack. Your son, always brave and resolute, must have decided to hold his position at all costs. The others obeyed him without question and all unfortunately suffered for their devotion.
“I feel it very deeply that I should be away from them all at this time. I hope to be allowed to return very shortly, and I will then write and let you know more of the circumstances. I know that all I shall be able to tell you will only make you, if possible, more proud of your son than ever. Personally I shall sadly miss the comradeship of a very gallant gentleman.”
31 December 1915
WATER STREET WESLEYAN CHAPEL
At the Water Street Wesleyan Chapel [Skipton] on Sunday morning last the Rev. W.B. Smith made sympathetic reference to the death of Mrs. M. Wilson, commenting on the good work she had done in connection with the Church and the public life of the town and district.– At the evening service the rev. gentleman alluded to the death of Lance-Corporal J.W. Willan, of the 1/6 Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. He mentioned that Water Street Chapel had taken its share in the nation’s sacrifice. They had previously lost two members, namely Horace Walker and Fred Thornton, and they met that night with very mingled feelings owing to the death of Lance- Corpl. Willan. The deceased soldier heard the call and answered it. He offered everything to his country and that offering had been accepted. Apart from his patriotism there was another side to his character, and more than one Skipton lad had gone out of his way to bear testimony to the influence for good exercised by the deceased. He felt that he was acting in accordance with the wishes of the congregation in expressing deep sympathy with the relations in their sorrow.
14 January 1916
THE LATE PRIVATE FURNESS – Comrades Tribute
Mr. and Mrs. John Furness of Brougham Street, Skipton, have received the following letter of condolence on the death of their son, Pte. F.P. Furness, First-sixth Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, who was killed in action in the latter part of December:–
France, Jan 1st, 1916
“Just a few lines on behalf of the gun section to express our sympathy with you in your sorrow. Fred and Lance-Corpl. Willan were in charge of two guns next to each other and they were both rather badly gassed as they were very near to the German line, and did not get much warning. Fred was an excellent gunner and for the last few months was in charge of a gun and was generally with me in the trenches. He always did his duty cheerfully and well, and we cannot express how sorry we are to lose him. He is one of the many victims of Hun Kulture, but we shall avenge them all if we get the chance again. Fred did his duty till the danger of attack was over and stuck to his gun until carried away to hospital, and it may comfort you to know he died a hero. He was a fine fellow, always ready for anything that turned up. Hoping you will be comforted a little by the section’s sympathy and my own,
"I remain, yours sincerely, FRED STORK, SERGT.”
22 December 1916
WILLAN – In memory of John Wilson Willan (Jack) who died in France, December 20th 1915, in his 24th year, son of Geo. W. and E. Willan, Skipton.
To the treasured memory of my nephew Jack, a true-hearted son of Briton, who gave his life for Empire and Country, December 20th 1915. – From his aunt, Mrs. Clayton, Holywell Cottage, Skipton.
13 April 1917
“FELL DOING HIS DUTY NOBLY” – SKIPTON FOOTBALLER KILLED IN ACTION: GUNNER GEO. WILLIAM FLETCHER
It is with much regret that we have to record this week the death in action of Gunner George William Fletcher of the Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Fletcher of 32 George Street, Skipton, and a well known Skipton footballer. News of the sad event, which apparently occurred about Wednesday of last week, was received last weekend in the following letter from deceased’s officer:– “I much regret to have to inform you that your son met a soldier’s end in action. He fell doing his duty nobly, as the excellent gunner he was, with the lanyard in his hand. His name will be the first to be inscribed on the Roll of Honour of the ----- Siege Battery, and none will, I am certain, be more sincerely lamented. He was struck by a piece of shell in the head and killed instantly, and his death must have been painless. Please accept the sympathy of both officers and men in your bereavement.”
Twenty-nine years of age, deceased was a warp-dresser in the employ of Mr. J. Wilkinson, Park Shed, prior to enlisting in February 1915, and he had been in France about nine months. Amongst the sporting public of the town and district he will be remembered as one of the best forwards for many seasons of the Skipton Rugby Football Club, and he was one of the clever fifteen which, in 1911-12, carried off the Yorkshire Challenge Cup. For a brief period he also assisted the Ilkley Rugby team.
His brother, Pte. Charles Smith Fletcher, has also been at the Front with the West Riding Regiment and was recently seriously wounded in the thigh. He is now in Liverpool hospital. He was also in the employ of Mr. Wilkinson as a dyer.
With the death of Gunner Fletcher, the Skipton Football Club’s Roll of Honour has been increased to six, the other five being Lieut. J.C. McIntyre, Lance-Corporal J. Willan and Privates S. Bishop, F. Thornton and Fred Gallagher.
21 December 1917
WILLAN – In proud and cherished memory of John Wilson Willan (‘Jack’), younger son of Geo. W. and E. Willan, Skipton-in-Craven, who died of gas poisoning in Flanders, December 20th 1915, in his 24th year.
WILLAN – In loving memory of John Wilson Willan, who gave his life for his country, December 20th 1915.
From his Aunt, Holywell Cottage, Skipton.
20 December 1918
WILLAN – In proud and cherished memory of John Wilson Willan (‘Jack’), Lance-Corporal 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, Machine Gun Corps, younger son of Geo. W. and H. Willan, Skipton-in-Craven, who died of gas poisoning in Flanders, December 20th, 1915, in his 24th year.
In tender recollection of a lovable nephew, from his uncle and aunt at Holywell Cottage, Skipton.
23 December 1921
WILLAN – In proud and cherished memory of John Wilson (Jack) Willan, younger son of Geo. W. and E. Willan, who died in Flanders, Dec. 20th, 1915, in his 24th year.
WILLAN – In loving memory of John Wilson (Jack) Willan, younger son of George W. and E. Willan, Greenwood Terrace, Skipton, who died in Flanders, Dec. 20th, 1915.
From Uncle, Aunt and Cousins, Holywell Cottage, Skipton.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
23 April 1915
6TH WEST RIDING REGIMENT WITHIN SOUND OF THE GUNS
From letters that have been received during the week, we gather that the men of the 6th West Riding, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who were removed from Doncaster to France last week, had a very pleasant voyage and are in the best of health and spirits.
The following letter has been received by Mr. Geo. W. Willan of Otley Street, Skipton from his son, Private J.W. Willan:– “Here we are in France, but I cannot tell you at what place, and so far everything has been first rate. The journey was a long one, for we came a very round about way. You know we left Doncaster with the transports, and we had plenty of fun in getting the horses and mules into the cattle trucks and then unloading and getting them into the boats at Southampton. Well, I am not allowed to say much as to where we are or as to where we may go, but we are not so far away from the firing line as most of you at Skipton will think, and we stand a very good chance of having a nearer look at it in a very short time. We certainly shall be disappointed if we do not get there very soon, and when we do get into the firing line we hope that all will be well. We have been trying to have a bath. I had mine in a bucket behind a hen pen. We do not care if anyone saw us or not for we had not had a shave or a scrub since we left Doncaster, and with four day’s growth on our faces you never saw such ‘pills’ as we looked in your life. Well, everything so far is all right. The food is good, the butter fine, and we are every one of us in the best of health and spirits. Remember me to all – Jack.”
Writing to his mother, Mrs. T.H. Taylor of Gargrave Road, Skipton, Private Reginald Borrisow says:– “We are having lovely weather over here and we are stationed at a village within sound of the guns. The village has been bombarded some time ago, and the church tower has been hit by shells and is very badly damaged.”
01 October 1915
SKIPTON LAD ACCIDENTALLY WOUNDED – Might Lose the Sight of Right Eye
Another Skipton lad to be wounded is Pte. J.L. Peacock, of the 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment, and son of Mr. Edmund Peacock, 7, Neville Street, Skipton. The news was received in a letter dated Sept. 24th from Pte. J.W. Willan, which was as follows:– “Being a friend of John’s it falls to my lot to have to inform you that last night he was wounded, and by this time I think he will be on his way to England. The wound, which was caused by the accidental bursting of one of our bombs, does not endanger his life at all, although it is a pretty bad wound in the face and might destroy his sight with the right eye. I got to him soon after the doctor had dressed the wound, and I am glad to tell you that he had very little pain and that he is one of the best plucked lads I know. He took his misfortune in fine spirit. I went with him to the 1st Field Dressing Station, where I had to leave him. Other two chaps were injured by the same bomb. We in the gun section are all sorry to lose John.”
Corpl. F. Stork and Pte. Richard Lee have also written to Mrs. Peacock expressing their regret that her son has been wounded.
Prior to enlisting, Pte. Peacock, who is only 18 years of age, was employed in the office of the Belle Vue Mills.
24 December 1915
WILLAN – December 20, in Flanders, Lance Corporal John Wilson Willan, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Willan of Otley Street, Skipton, in his 23rd year.
Free from sorrow, free from sin,
With God eternally shut in.
24 December 1915
LANCE CORPORAL WILLAN OF SKIPTON ‘GASSED’
It is with the deepest regret that we have to report the death of Lance Corporal John Wilson Willan, the younger son of Mr. Geo. W. Willan and Mrs. Willan of Otley Street, Skipton. He was 23 years of age last April. The sad news was received on Tuesday evening by telegram from the Record Office, York, worded as follows:–
“2453, Lance Corporal John Wilson Willan, 1st 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment, died December 20th. Cause gas poisoning. Brought in dead from ambulance train to 10th Stationary Hospital at Stomer.”
The last letter from the unfortunate young man was received last week. It was mostly of a private nature, but he stated that he was in the trenches after a spell of 32 days away from them. Eight of those days he had spent in reserve, eight resting and sixteen in a gunnery school. He was afraid he would be in the trenches at Christmas, but hoped to get leave shortly afterwards. Last April, just as his battalion was going to the Front, Lance Corporal Willan was offered a commission, but learning that he would not in this case be allowed to go to Flanders, he refused the offer. In his machine gun section he was greatly respected by his comrades, and the testimony of one who returned home a fortnight ago was that he had a good influence on the lives of men.
Lance Corporal Willan was at one time employed in the accountant’s office of the Skipton Urban District Council, but latterly was with his father. Prior to the war he was an officer in the local Cadet Corps. Shortly after the outbreak of hostilities, he enlisted in the 6th West Riding Regiment, and was subsequently attached to a machine gun section. He was promoted to Lance Corporal whilst at the Front. He had played Rugby football with the Skipton team, and was also a cricketer. Lance Corporal Willan was secretary to the Water Street Wesleyan Sunday School, and an active worker in the Guild and Men’s Institute. He was well-known and highly respected in the district. The news of his death was received with sincere regret by a host of friends and much sympathy is felt for the bereaved parents.
Mr. Willan’s elder son, Edgar, joined the Motor Transport Section some time ago, and expects having to leave for the Front at any moment.
24 December 1915
CRAVEN’S ROLL OF HONOUR – SKIPTON
Lance Corporal John Wilson Willan, 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment, son of Mr. George and Mrs. Willan of Otley Street, Skipton, died from gas poisoning on December 20th 1915. Formerly employed in the accountant’s office of the Urban District Council. Secretary of the Water Street Wesleyan Sunday School, Skipton.
31 December 1915
AN APPRECIATION OF THE LATE LANCE-CORPL. WILLAN
‘ALWAYS BRAVE AND RESOLUTE’
Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Willan of Otley Street, Skipton, have received numerous letters sympathising with them in the great loss they have sustained by the death of their son, Lance Corporal J.W. Willan, which, as we reported last week, occurred as the result of gas poisoning.
Amongst them is one from Capt. Ralph M. Robinson of the 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment, who writes as follows:– “I cannot tell you how deeply grieved I am by the sad news, or how much I sympathise with you all. I need hardly say that your son was one of the best and most reliable soldiers in the excellent machine gun section I had the honour to command. No amount of shelling or other danger ever troubled him in the slightest, and I shall never know how much I owe to his excellent influence over the others. I have no information beyond what I have read in the papers, but as all the four other men who died from gas poisoning were in the machine gun section one can picture pretty clearly what happened.
“Your son was in command of a gun of the front line when the cloud of gas came greatest. It is a difficult thing to move a machine gun with the ammunition in a muddy trench, and it is almost impossible to carry it back to its emplacement in time to make an attack. Your son, always brave and resolute, decided to hold his position at all costs and the others obeyed him without question, and all unfortunately suffered for their devotion. I feel it very deeply that I should be away from them at this time, but I hope to be allowed to return shortly and will then write to let you know more of the circumstances. I know that all I shall be able to tell you then will only make you, if possible, more proud of your son than ever. Personally I shall miss the comradeship of a very gallant gentleman.”
14 January 1916
THE LATE LANCE-CORPORAL WILLAN – Left His Post with Reluctance
Mr. and Mrs. Willan, of Otley Street, Skipton, have received the following letter dated January 1st, from Sergt. Fred Stork (a Skipton young man), of the Machine Gun Section of the 6th West Riding (Duke of Wellington’s) Regiment, who writes in touching terms with regard to the death by gas poisoning of Lance-Corpl. J.W. Willan:–“I am writing on behalf of the Machine Gun Section to express our deepest sympathy with you in your great sorrow. It has been a blow to us all, as he was such a good man and a favourite with everyone. We can understand somewhat, what a blow it must be to you at home. It is the parents who wait at home in vain who know the real horrors of war. I hope it will be some consolation to you to know that Jack died a hero’s death. He stuck to his post until all the danger was past and then left it with reluctance, for we would not allow him to stay any longer. I saw him off to the hospital and did not think he was seriously ‘gassed,’ but he must have been worse than he let us know. You can rest assured that Jack, who served us well whilst amongst us, is now with the Lord. He always lived a clean, straight life, and had the respect and confidence of the officers and men. I again express my own sorrow, as we were rather special friends, and I feel his loss keenly. Well, I hope you will not take it too hard, as you have every reason to be proud of being the parents of a son and a hero who has paid his country’s price. Again I express the sympathy of the Gun Section.”
22 December 1916
In memory of John Wilson Willan (Jack) who died in France, December 20th 1915, in his 24th year, son of Geo. W. and E. Willan, Skipton.
21 December 1917
WILLAN – In proud and cherished memory of John Wilson Willan (Jack), younger son of Geo. W. and E. Willan, Skipton-in-Craven, who died of gas poisoning in Flanders, Dec. 20th, 1915, in his 24th year.
20 December 1918
WILLAN – In proud and cherished memory of John Wilson Willan (‘Jack’), Lce-Cpl. 1/6 Duke of Wellington’s Regt., Machine Gun Corps, younger son of Geo. W. and E. Willan, Skipton-in-Craven, who died of gas poisoning in Flanders, December 20th, 1915, in his 24th year.
Comment on this Soldier Record
You can leave comments on this soldier record. Please note all comments will be manually approved before they appear on the website.
No comments yet.