BILLS, Joseph

Joseph Bills was the son of Harry and Maria Bills of 29 Coalburnbrook, Amblecote. He worked as a striker at the iron-works of Messrs Isaac Nash & Co and enlisted in 1917. He was sent to the South Staffords and joined the 7th Battalion on the Western Front in July. The Staffords were in the front line in July near Boesinghe preparing for the Third Battle of Ypres. It was at this time that Private Thomas Barratt of Coseley was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry, covering a patrol retreating under heavy fire but being killed by shell-fire on his return to the trenches. On the 16th August the Staffords undertook a major attack across the Steenbeck towards Langemarck in appalling weather. The attack was a success but casualties were taken from German artillery once the objectives had been reached. Private Joseph Bills was killed in action on this day and is buried in Bard Cottage Cemetery (IV C 34) near Boesinghe. He was 20 years of age and had only been a month in the front line. He is commemorated on the Amblecote Memorial.