Willie was the fourth of five children of joiner Fred Illingworth and his wife Harriet. By 1911 census, Fred was a widower while 18-year-old Willie was working as a warehouseman. On 1 October 1915, the Shipley Times & Express published the news that: “Mr Fred Illingworth received news on Wednesday that his son Pte Willie Illingworth, has been wounded and that he is now in hospital on the continent. It is only three weeks since he left England and so he has been early in the fray. “Pte Illingworth, who is 23 years of age, joined the forces immediately after the outbreak of war and had been in training exactly a year when he went to the Front.” Having recovered, Willie went back

to the Front and on 12 May 1916 we read: “Pte William Illingworth of the 13th Northumberland Fusiliers, who previous to enlisting resided at 18 Woodbine Terrace, Idle, has been killed in action. “The official intimation states that he was killed instantaneously in a dug-out by a bursting shell on April 27th. “He was wounded at Loos last September. “The deceased was the eldest son of Mr Fred Illingworth of Idle and was 23 years of age. Previous to the outbreak of war he was engaged as a warehouseman at

Messrs Brigg Neumann, East Parade “He was a playing member of the Idle Baptist Cricket Club and was very popular with the members. “A memorial service was held on Sunday evening at the Baptist Chapel. The Rev Thomas Moss (pastor) occupied the pulpit and delivered a most appropriate discourse. “In the eloquent tribute which the rev gentleman paid to the dead hero he said Pte Illingworth was the first lad from the Baptist Church at Idle to respond to the call of the colours. “He had two characteristics – gentleness and homeliness – and

these manifested themselves in his life and in the letters which he sent home from the Front. “Furthermore, he was always bright, cheerful and that fact was bound to make him a favourite amongst those with whom he came into contact. “He had made the extreme sacrifice for King and Country and as the chaplain’s letter to the deceased’s father had said: ‘Greater love hath no man than that he should lay down his life for his friends.’ “The hymn Brief life is here our portion and O God, our help in ages past, whilst the organist Mr F Ripley, played the Dead March from Saul. “The service which was most impressive, was largely attended.”