WILLETTS, William

William Willetts was the son of William Willetts of 9 Moor Street, Brierley Hill. He was living at Hednesford, Staffs, when he volunteered, and was probably a miner since he joined the Royal Engineers and was posted to the 184th Tunnelling Company. This was set up and trained at Rouen in October 1915 before moving to Souzanne on the Somme. New companies had been formed rapidly in 1915 as the range of work expanded to include tunnels of great length under enemy lines. The work was dangerous but casualties not high. In January they were working on a tunnel close to the Peronne Road and Sapper William Willetts was killed in action on the 28th January 1916. He is buried in Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (II H16) and commemorated on the Brierley Hill Memorial