William John Wills
Serjeant William John Wills – South Wales Borderers, Brecknock Battalion
Introduction
In December 1917, St. Paul’s Church, Sketty,
witnessed its first military burial. The service was held for Serjeant
William John Wills, aged just 32, who had served with the South
Wales Borderers, Brecknock Battalion. His story, pieced together from
census returns, marriage records, and military documents, provides a glimpse
into both his personal life and the wider social history of his time.
Early Life in Honiton
William John Wills was born in the market town of Honiton,
East Devon, a place with deep historical roots and a tradition of
craftsmanship. His parents, William (often recorded as John) Wills and Mahala
Wills (née Golesworthy), were married there in June 1884.
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| 1891 Census |
According to the 1891 Census, the Wills family was living at 69 Bonds Cottage, Honiton. William’s father worked as a tailor, despite being deaf and mute from childhood. The household included young William, then aged five, his siblings, and two of his maternal uncles.
Honiton itself has a long and rich history. Mentioned in the
Domesday Book as Honetone, it developed along the ancient Roman Fosse
Way, the road linking Exeter to Lincoln. The town became renowned in the
Elizabethan era for its lace-making industry, introduced by Flemish
immigrants. Although devastated by several major fires in the 18th century,
Honiton was rebuilt during the Georgian period, shaping much of the town’s
present appearance.
Growing Up and Moving Away
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| 1901 Census |
By the time of the 1901 Census, William, then aged fifteen, was working as a saddler’s apprentice. He was still living in Honiton with his younger siblings — Percy, Arthur, Gertrude, and Marian — while learning a skilled trade that would shape his later life.
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| William John Wills and Edith Emma Simons Marriage Certificate St. Gabriel church |
In search of greater opportunity, William later moved to South Wales, where he found work and began a new chapter. In June 1907, he married Edith Emma Simons at St. Gabriel’s Church, Swansea. At the time of their marriage, William was living at 22 Cromwell Street and employed as a saddler.
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| 1911 Census |
The 1911 Census records the couple living in Ystalyfera, Pontardawe, where William was working as a harness maker and general hand — a skilled craftsman supporting the mining and industrial communities of the Swansea Valley.
Military Service
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| Attestation Papers |
The Brecknock Battalion was part of the Territorial
Force, created in 1908 and based in Brecon, where it drew its
recruits from rural mid-Wales. The unit had originally formed from the 1st
Brecknockshire Rifle Volunteers and was composed largely of tradesmen,
artisans, and agricultural workers.
When the First World War broke out in August 1914,
the Brecknock Battalion was mobilised for home defence duties along the South
Wales coast, guarding railways, ports, and communication lines. Later that
year, it became one of the first Welsh Territorial units to be sent overseas.
In December 1914, the battalion sailed to India, arriving in Bombay
(Mumbai) in early 1915 before being sent to the North-West
Frontier Province (modern-day Pakistan).
There, the men undertook arduous garrison and patrol duties
in the Peshawar, Nowshera, and Quetta regions — part of
Britain’s efforts to maintain stability along the volatile Afghan frontier.
Though they saw little direct combat, the Brecknocks faced extreme heat,
disease, and harsh living conditions. Many of the battalion’s losses came not
from battle but from cholera, dysentery, and heat-related illness.
The battalion remained in India for the duration of the war,
allowing regular army units to be deployed elsewhere. It became known as the
“Forgotten Battalion,” serving faithfully thousands of miles from home.
It is unclear whether Serjeant Wills accompanied his
unit overseas or remained attached to a home-based element of the battalion.
Regardless, his service with the Brecknocks placed him among the many
Territorial soldiers whose commitment and endurance sustained Britain’s global
war effort far from the Western Front.
Tragically, on 21st December 1917, Serjeant
William John Wills’s life was cut short while still in service. Following
his death, his widow Edith received a pension and returned to live in
the Sketty area.
Burial and Commemoration
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| William John Wills St. Paul’s, Sketty credit - findagrave |
He is commemorated both in Sketty and in his hometown of
Honiton, where his name is inscribed on the Honiton War Memorial.
Legacy
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| Honiton War Memorial |
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| Honiton War Memorial |
The story of Serjeant William John Wills represents one of many personal journeys shaped by the First World War. From a tailor’s son in Honiton, to a saddler and craftsman in South Wales, to a soldier of the South Wales Borderers, his life reflects the resilience and dedication of ordinary men whose names now adorn memorials in both their home towns and adopted communities. His name is also commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty, ensuring that his service and sacrifice are remembered within the parish where he was laid to rest. His grave at St. Paul’s continues to symbolise the far-reaching impact of the Great War on families across Britain.
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