Born: 13 April 1886, Eccleshill
Died: 26 June 1918
Buried: Thiennes British Cemetery
Address: 16 Chapel Street, Eccleshill
Parents: Joseph and Agnes, nee Hargreaves
Spouse: Hannah, nee Roper
Siblings: Herbert, Samuel, Arthur
Occupation: Woollen mule piecer (1911)
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte Fitter
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park and St Luke’s
Children: Herbert, Allan
Regiment: Royal Field Artllery
Willie Jowett
Willie Jowett was born on
the 13th of April 1886 in
Bradford the third of four
sons of Joseph and Agnes,
nee Hargreaves.
Joseph and Agnes set up
home at 4 Chapel Walk
where they were to live for
the next 30 years. Joseph
was unemployed for a
while and Agnes worked as
a worsted weaver.
By 1891 Joseph had found work
again as a cloth tenterer and three
children had been born, Herbert,
Samuel in 1884 and Willie. Their
youngest son Arthur was born in
1897.
In 1911 Willie at the age of 14
years was working as a woollen
mule piecer.
Willie married Hannah Roper on
the 23rd of February 1907
at St Luke’s Church,
Eccleshill. He was 20
years of age, a cogs maker
living at 3, Woodview
Cottages. Hannah was 20
year of age, living at 1249
Bolton Road, the daughter
of William Roper a
plumber.
Willie and Hannah set up
home at 16 Chapel Street and they
had two sons, Herbert born in 1907
and Allan in 1910.
Hannah died and was buried on the
23rd January 1912 aged 25 years.
Willie and his family returned to
the family home at 45 Chapel
Street where Agnes helped to raise
his children.
It is not known when Willie
enlisted but he became a fitter with
‘D Battery, 152nd Brigade of the
Royal Field Artillery, Service
number 152505.
His unit was involved in all the
Battles of the Somme in the spring
and summer of 1918 and Willie lost
his life on the 26th of June 1918.
He was on his way to the dressing
station after being wounded when a
shell struck him on the head and he
died immediately. He was 32
years of age.
He was buried at Thiennes British
Cemetery commissioned for
Commonwealth burials arising
from the fighting in this area during
the summer of 1918. It was closed
in the August and there are now
114 burials in the cemetery.
Willie left his effects to his mother
Agnes for the care of his children,
who received £10.2.8d on the 4th
November 1918 and a War Gratuity
of £8.10s on the 11th December
1919.
Her husband Joseph had died in
1918 and she was left to raise Bert
and Allan. She had lost two of her
four sons in the War.
.
Researched and written by Jean
Britteon, to whom many thanks
Agnes Jowett with her grandsons
Allen and Herbert, who she brought
up after their parents’ deaths
