Billinghay Fallen WW1

Many young men answered the call from Lord Kitchener – Wants You. Join Your Country’s Army! God save the King. The men of Billinghay like thousands across the country answered the call. Attending their local recruitment offices and signing up to join the fight.

Thousands of men, young and old lost their lives on the battlefield, but not everyone died in combat. Some succumbed to awful illnesses contracted through living in the terrible conditions of the trenches and battlefields, prisoner of war camps.

On the Billinghay memorial in WW1, there are 34 fallen men remembered, I have selected two men to be remembered on 11 Nov 2024. These two men did not die in combat but died of Pneumonia and Tuberculosis (TB) whilst overseas. Their contribution to the war effort was just as crucial as those who lost their lives instantly or through wounds received whilst in combat.

My first soldier to be remembered is:

Private Arthur Toulson

b. 1892 Attercliffe, Sheffield D. 24 Oct 1918
Private Arthur Toulson died from Pneumonia in Nowshera: New Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi, India.

Arthur Toulson was the sixth of seven children of Charles and Susan Toulson, nee Jackson. Although Arthur was born in Attercliffe, Sheffield, his parents and five elder siblings were all born in Billinghay, Lincolnshire.
Following the premature death of his father Charles, the Toulson family moved back to their home village of Billinghay. In the 1911 census for England & Wales, records life was very tough for Susan, she was receiving parish relief, whilst her two children living with her were working in low-paid jobs.

Meanwhile, Arthur, in the 1911 census for England and Wales, had left home. He was a boarder at Howell, Heckington, Lincolnshire, and worked as a servant horseman on the farm for William Wilson.
By 1915 Arthur was living at Walcott Fen, near Billinghay, he was a horseman, this is confirmed in his army records. When aged 23 years Arthur enlisted at Sleaford, Lincolnshire and attested 10 Dec 1915.
Served: North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales’s) Regiment – 2nd Battalion, Regiment Number: 20708.

Arthur’s army records confirm from 10 Dec 1915 until 14 Mar 1917 he was at home, then on 15 Mar 1917, he was sent to India. His mother Susan Toulson was recorded as NOK (Next of Kin), she was living at West Street, Billinghay.

Arthur was 5ft in height and was recorded to be under height, but deemed fit for duty.
During the two years, from 24 Feb 1916 to 6 Mar 1916 he was based at Lichfield, Staffordshire. He was then on 7 Mar 1916 moved to Wallsend where he remained until 30 Mar 1916. Then he was sent to Belton Army camp, Grantham he remained there until 24 Nov 1916. He was returned to Wallsend on 25 Nov 1916, until he was posted on 15 Mar 1917 and sent to India. Theatre of War: Asiatic Theatres
He was awarded the British War medal.

Arthurs death was announced in the Horncastle News and South Lindsey Advertiser on Saturday 16 November 1918.

Billinghay in India of pneumonia Pte. Arthur Toulson 27.

My second soldier is:

Soldier Private Wyles (Wiles) Harvey

b. 1894 Billinghay, Lincolnshire. d. 3 May 1918, Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston, Warwickshire.

Wiles was the fifth child of 8 surviving children to James and Harriet Harvey of High Street, Billinghay, Lincolnshire. In the 1911 census, Wyles was a labourer aged 17. On 10 December 1915, he attended the Sleaford recruitment office and joined the 1/4 Lincolnshire regiment, regiment number 202109.

His occupation was a Waggoner on the farm. Wiles was living with his parents on High Street, Billinghay, Lincolnshire. Fortunately, Wiles’s army records have survived and provided some insight into his time in the military.

On 11 July 1916 Wiles was posted to France where he stayed until 28 October 1916, returning home to England from 29 October 1916 until 7 June 1917. On 8 June 1917, he was posted back to France until 9 March 1918. Sadly he had received an injury whereby he was honourably discharged being no longer fit for duty. For which he was awarded the Silver War badge, as confirmed on his medal roll card. He was also awarded the Victory and British campaign medals.

Wiles army records confirm Wiles was a patient in the 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston it is where Wiles died of TB on the 3 May 1918.

He was buried in the Birmingham Lodge Hill Cemetery, Birmingham.

This cemetery has 498 graves of soldiers, who mostly died from their wounds at local hospitals during the First World War.

Sources Ancestry.com: Military Genealogy.com, comp. UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
Original data: British and Irish Military Databases. The Naval and Military Press Ltd.
Ancestry.com. UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920
Original data: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO).
Ancestry.com. UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929
Original data: Soldiers’ Effects Records, 1901–60. National Army Museum, Chelsea, London, England.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Contact me at jackocats2@gmail.com