WILLETTS, James H

James Willetts was born in Oldswinford and lived at 175 Hagley Road with his parents. He attended Oldswinford C of E School. He volunteered for service in the Territorials and possibly served in the 1/7th like so many of his school friends. At some point he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion in 1917 and so fought in the battle of Arras with the 33rd Division in May 1917. On the 20th the Worcesters were on the right of the division’s line at Croisilles, facing a notably strong section of the German defensive system of the Hindenburg Line. Conditions were favourable at the outset for the whole area was in mist at daybreak and this enabled the troops to achieve some element of surprise. The Worcesters attacked in four waves of company strength and the enemy's wire was reached without detection. While a confusing bombing contest went on in the second line of trenches, German artillery shelled the whole area behind them. Nevertheless, the old German front line had been won and kept. Only at nightfall on the 21st was the battalion relieved but by that time scarcely half of them were able to report for parade. The losses were 36 killed, 73 missing and 141 wounded. Among those killed was Private James Willetts who was 23 years of age and is commemorated on the Arras, Stourbridge, Oldswinford church and Oldswinford C of E School Memorials.