Ref ID: 4376
Name
Joseph Willey.
Description
Belfast Telegraph Newspaper Photograph of Lance Corporal Joseph Willey.
Life Story
Name: Joseph Willey.
Service Number: 9347.
Rank: Lance Corporal.
Battalion: 2nd Battalion.
Regiment: Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Born: 6th March 1894, Lurgan, County Armagh.
Died: 26th August 1914.
Address: 14 Christopher Street, Shankill Road, Belfast
.
Joseph Willey, son of John and late Elizabeth Willey, step son of Margaret, lived at 1 Richmond Street, Shankill Road, Belfast
.
The 1901 Ireland Census has Joseph living at 73 in Hill, Lurgan with his mother, three sisters, Mildred, 6 years, Annie, 2 years, Maggie, under 1 year, and brother James, 4 years. His aunt Mildred McCoy lived in the house, as did his Grandmother Sarah McCoy, registered as Head of Family. A Great Aunt, Lizzie Hill also lived there
.
The 1911 English Census has Joseph stationed with the 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers at Mandora Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot, England
.
Joseph joined the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
He was posted as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 23rd August 1914.
Joseph was a Lance Corporal in 2nd Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was Killed In Action on the 26th of August 1914 aged 20 years.
.
A local newspaper states.
Lance Corporal J Wiley 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers, who formerly lived with Mr Richard Cassells, Lough Road, and who has been missing since 26th August 1914, is now reported as having been killed and buried at Solessuls, Cambrai, France
.
C.W.G.C Documents show us the Joseph was buried by the Germans before being exhumed and reburied within Bevillers Communal Cemetery, France, after the war. On a exhumation report its states that a cross was placed were he and another soldier were buried and on it was wrote in German, Two English Warriors. They also show that a small note book with his name wrote upon it was found on by civilians in 1914 and that his dog tags were lost during the progression of war
.
Josephs Soldiers Effects were left to his father.
Pension documents also show his father John as Claimant.
A Dependant Pension Application Form shows his father and Stepmother Margaret as claimants
.
Josephs brother James who lived at 13 Lawyer Street, Belfast, applied for his Medals on the 9th September 1924
.
Joseph received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star
.
He is Remembered at Bevillers Communal Cemetery, France.
To Remember Is To Honour
.
Theme
Shankill Roll of Honour
Date
1915
Classification
Newspaper, , Photograph - Belfast Telegraph
