WILLETTS, George

George Willetts was born in Colley Gate, Cradley, and in 1914 was living with his parents James and Mary Willetts at 58 Banner Street, Overend. He enlisted in the 14th (Birmingham Pals) Battalion of the Warwicks which went to the 5th Division in December 1915. They fought on the Somme in 1916 and endured the travails of the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. In November they were sent to Italy to halt the German/Austrian attack on Venice. They returned to the Western Front in June 1918 and supported the initial actions of the Advance to Victory. In September they were at the centre of the decisive assault on the Hindenburg Line. Their third attack in two weeks took them to La Vacquerie, close to Cambrai and the next battle was the assault on the Hindenburg Line. It was hard fought and among those killed in action on the 29th September, perhaps the decisive day of the Advance to Victory, was Private George Willetts. He is buried in Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers Plouich (IV C 13) and commemorated on the Cradley and Halesowen Memorials.