Completed William Henry Bills
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2026 10:57 am
Private 10706 William Henry Bills
Abt 28/6/1898 - 18/8/1916 (18)
https://www.tiptonremembers.net/index.p ... liam-henry
Dob abt 28/6/1898 Dudley
Baptism
Staffordshire Wednesbury St James
Register type Parish Register
Register entry number 133
Birth date 28 Jun 1898
Baptism date 19 Jul 1898
Person forename William Henry
Person sex M
Father forename Richard Samuel
Mother forename Jessie Mary
Father surname BILLS
Person abode Ocker Hill
Father occupation Labourer
Parents
Richard Samuel Bills & Jessie Mary Bennett??
Parents Marriage Plymouth
Richard Bills
Jessie Mary Bennett
Registration Year 1887
Registration Quarter Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration District East Stonehouse
Inferred County Devon
Volume 5b
Page 590
1901 148 High Street, Sedgley, Staffs.
In household of Benjamin and Maria Bills:
Benjamin Bills 32 Head
Maria Bills 32 Wife
Benjamin Bills 11 Son
Joseph Bills 8 Son
Sarah A Bills 6 Daughter
Florence Bills 2 Daughter
Jessie Bills (37, Sister-in-Law, Living on own means, born Plymouth) with her 3 children: Florence (12, born Plymouth), Richard (5, born Ocker Hill), and William (2, born Ocker Hill).
No sign of Richard Bills, her husband. They married in 1887 in Plymouth - could he have been in the Navy and hence away at sea at this time? He was also away in 1891 when Jessie was living with her eldset child in Plymouth.
1911 10 Pitts Square, Leabrook Rd, Wednesbury, Staffs.
Richard Bills (44, Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Jessie (37, Sewing Machinist - Tailoring, born Plymouth) and 1 of their 2 surviving children of 4: William (12, School, born Tipton).
WW1 Records
Private 10706 William Henry Bills
Died of Wounds on Friday, 18th August 1916, age 18.
Buried in Grave VIII. H. 3. at Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas De Calais, France.
'C' Company of 7th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 33rd Brigade of 11th Division.
Son of Richard Samuel and Jessie Mary Bills, of 33, Lea Brook Rd., Wednesbury.
Born: Ocker Hill, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Wednesbury.
First landed Balkans, 21st July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.
War Diary 17th August 1916:
Enemy shelled HETSAS ST. on left of RONVILLE REDOUBT, also strongpoint at ACHICOURT searching for new gun emplacement. Also shelled the village itself. One High Explosive entered a billet.
Casualties:
9983 L/Cpl. CRILLY D.C. (slightly wounded) & 10706 Pte. BILLS W.H. (seriously wounded)
War Diary 18th August 1916:
10706 Pte. BILLS W.H. died of wounds received in action yesterday.
Dod 18/8/1916 (18) Died of wounds France
Buried in Grave VIII. H. 3. at Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas De Calais, France.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/29613/
The CWGC had William's date of death recorded as 18th May 1916, this was wrong as the 7th South Staffs were in Egypt at this time and William is buried in France. His Medal Index Card, SDGW, War Diary and Death Certificate all says 18th August 1916.
The CWGC now accept 18th August 1916 is correct, and have changed their database. Unfortunately they will be only change headstone when next renewed, as it is in perfect condition, this will be many decades away. (April 2010)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/562 ... enry-bills
Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Any other info
Abt 28/6/1898 - 18/8/1916 (18)
https://www.tiptonremembers.net/index.p ... liam-henry
Dob abt 28/6/1898 Dudley
Baptism
Staffordshire Wednesbury St James
Register type Parish Register
Register entry number 133
Birth date 28 Jun 1898
Baptism date 19 Jul 1898
Person forename William Henry
Person sex M
Father forename Richard Samuel
Mother forename Jessie Mary
Father surname BILLS
Person abode Ocker Hill
Father occupation Labourer
Parents
Richard Samuel Bills & Jessie Mary Bennett??
Parents Marriage Plymouth
Richard Bills
Jessie Mary Bennett
Registration Year 1887
Registration Quarter Oct-Nov-Dec
Registration District East Stonehouse
Inferred County Devon
Volume 5b
Page 590
1901 148 High Street, Sedgley, Staffs.
In household of Benjamin and Maria Bills:
Benjamin Bills 32 Head
Maria Bills 32 Wife
Benjamin Bills 11 Son
Joseph Bills 8 Son
Sarah A Bills 6 Daughter
Florence Bills 2 Daughter
Jessie Bills (37, Sister-in-Law, Living on own means, born Plymouth) with her 3 children: Florence (12, born Plymouth), Richard (5, born Ocker Hill), and William (2, born Ocker Hill).
No sign of Richard Bills, her husband. They married in 1887 in Plymouth - could he have been in the Navy and hence away at sea at this time? He was also away in 1891 when Jessie was living with her eldset child in Plymouth.
1911 10 Pitts Square, Leabrook Rd, Wednesbury, Staffs.
Richard Bills (44, Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Jessie (37, Sewing Machinist - Tailoring, born Plymouth) and 1 of their 2 surviving children of 4: William (12, School, born Tipton).
WW1 Records
Private 10706 William Henry Bills
Died of Wounds on Friday, 18th August 1916, age 18.
Buried in Grave VIII. H. 3. at Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas De Calais, France.
'C' Company of 7th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 33rd Brigade of 11th Division.
Son of Richard Samuel and Jessie Mary Bills, of 33, Lea Brook Rd., Wednesbury.
Born: Ocker Hill, Enlisted: Wolverhampton, Resident: Wednesbury.
First landed Balkans, 21st July 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.
War Diary 17th August 1916:
Enemy shelled HETSAS ST. on left of RONVILLE REDOUBT, also strongpoint at ACHICOURT searching for new gun emplacement. Also shelled the village itself. One High Explosive entered a billet.
Casualties:
9983 L/Cpl. CRILLY D.C. (slightly wounded) & 10706 Pte. BILLS W.H. (seriously wounded)
War Diary 18th August 1916:
10706 Pte. BILLS W.H. died of wounds received in action yesterday.
Dod 18/8/1916 (18) Died of wounds France
Buried in Grave VIII. H. 3. at Habarcq Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas De Calais, France.
www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/29613/
The CWGC had William's date of death recorded as 18th May 1916, this was wrong as the 7th South Staffs were in Egypt at this time and William is buried in France. His Medal Index Card, SDGW, War Diary and Death Certificate all says 18th August 1916.
The CWGC now accept 18th August 1916 is correct, and have changed their database. Unfortunately they will be only change headstone when next renewed, as it is in perfect condition, this will be many decades away. (April 2010)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/562 ... enry-bills
Not commemorated on any Tipton memorial.
Any other info