Second
Lieutenant William Frederick Jelley, M.C.
6th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment.
Died of Wounds,
Friday 2nd November 1917.
Aged 22 Years.
William Frederick Jelley was the only son of Police
Sergeant Charles William Jelley and his wife, Temperance. In 1891 Charles,
Temperance and their daughter, Mary, aged six, were living in Barrow upon Soar.
William Frederick Jelley was born on the 22nd August 1895 in Syston,
Leicestershire. Charles and Temperance had two more children, but sadly they
didn't survive.
In 1901 the family had moved to 193 Main Street,
Thurmaston and in 1909 they had moved again, to Loughborough, and were living
in Church Gate.
William attended the Intermediate School in
Loughborough and on the 28th September 1909, when he was fourteen, he moved on
to the Loughborough Grammar School where he stayed for four years. His school
report showed him to be a good scholar, except in French where he "could
do better". He joined the Sixth Form in 1911 and the family had moved to
36 Leopold Street, Loughborough. His French was still "very poor" but
his results in Mathematics were good. He left the Grammar School on the 30th
July 1913 when he was almost eighteen to become a student teacher. He was also
one of the founders of the Nanpantan Troop of Boy Scouts, of which he was
Scoutmaster.
When William Jelley was nineteen he had completed his
first year's teaching at the Church Gate Council School, and then war broke out
on the 4th of August 1914. William Jelley enlisted with the 8th Battalion of the
Leicestershire Regiment and on the 29th July 1915, after nearly a year's
training at Aldershot, the 8th Leicesters left camp for Folkestone to board the
troopship SS Golden Eagle, to take them to Boulogne, France. William Jelley
rose through the ranks from Private to Lance Serjeant.
On the 14th July 1916, the 8th Leicesters were to take
part in the battle of Bazentin Ridge and it was during this engagement, on the
15th July, that the now Serjeant Jelley received a gunshot wound to his left
arm. It took four days from being wounded to arrive back in England, via Base
Hospital at Rouen, and then hospital ship back to England. Whilst he was recovering, Serjeant Jelley
was put through a training course and early in 1917, he obtained a commission
with the 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, (Princess of Wales's Own), and
returned to the front a few weeks later.
Now an officer, Second
Lieutenant Jelley was once again wounded on the 14th August 1917.
The Battalion war diary
recorded the day’s events.
On 14th August 1917 at 3.00 am, outposts withdrawn to W
bank of STEENBEEK, and
Formed into preparatory to an advance, A’ Coy attacking on
the right with 2 half
Platoons and 1 half platoons in support, To occupy the old
line of posts, 2 platoons of B’ Coy immediately in rear to occupy a prepared
position on the W Bank of STEENBEEK. C’Coy on the left with 2 half platoons and
1 platoon in support to occupy old line of posts. At 4am the barrage came down
and the advanced commenced. C’ Coy gained their objective on the left, A’ Coy
held up on the right by hostile M.G. fire from dug outs untouched by
bombardment. Enemy delivered several small attacks during the day on A’ Coy,
which were easily repelled by rifle fire, intense shelling all day by enemy.
All night battalion relieved by 5th Dorset Regiment, who took up
positions on the W Bank of the STEENBEEK, outposts being withdrawn through
them. Casualties: 2nd Lieutenant C.S.M. WELDON and 2nd Lieutenant W. F. JELLEY
wounded, other ranks: 20 killed, 63 wounded, 26 missing.
When dark fell stretcher-bearers removed the young
officer from the field. Very badly wounded, Second Lieutenant Jelley was taken
first to the field dressing station then on to a casualty clearing station. He was then
transported to the No 2 British Red Cross Hospital in Rouen.
On the 22nd August his mother, Mrs. Temperance Jelley,
received a telegram from the War Office, which read:
(Urgent)
You are permitted to visit 2nd Lt. W. F. Jelley, dangerously
ill, gun shot wound head and thigh fracture femur, at No 2 Red Cross Hospital
Rouen.
Mr. Jelley received permission from Loughborough
Police station for him and his wife to travel from Loughborough to Rouen and he
made arrangements to journey there to
see his son.
Upon arriving at the No. 2 Red Cross Hospital in
Rouen, Mr. and Mrs. Jelley visited William who was in a critical condition, the
gun-shot wound to his head was not life threatening, but the fracture to the
femur could cause complications. It was during this time, whilst in hospital,
that the news was conveyed on Second Lieutenant Jelley, that he had
been awarded the Military Cross for Bravery
in the Field on the 14th August.
One of the Royal Princes read his M.C. citation, which
was reported in the London Gazette on the 8th January 1918, to him.
Second
Lieutenant William Frederick Jelley, attd. York. Regiment.
For
conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in handling his platoon.
Although
wounded in the head he continued to lead his platoon until he had gained
his
objective. Later in the day, he was again wounded, having his thigh broken, but
although
in great pain and unable to move, he continued to urge on his men, and by his
splendid pluck and fortitude kept up their spirits until after dark, when he
was carried from the field.
During the first week of September, having returned back home to
Loughborough,
Mrs. Jelley received another Telegram from the War Office, stating their
son was still dangerously ill but that his condition was improved.
The improved condition only lasted two weeks. Mr. Jelley
received another telegram on the 20th October 1917 saying that his son was
again dangerously ill (severe relapse). Mr. Jelley returned to his son’s
bedside at Rouen, his wife stayed at home. While at his son’s side Mr. Jelley
gradually saw his son's condition worsen, necessitating an emergency operation,
on the 31st October, to have his leg and thigh amputated. Lieutenant Jelley’s
condition never improved and he passed away, in his
father’s presence, on the 2nd November 1917, aged just
22 years.
His mother received a telegram from the War Office,
which read: "Deeply regret to inform you that 2nd Lt. W. F. Jelley, York.
Reg., died of wounds, November second. The Army Council conveys their sympathy."
William Frederick Jelley's funeral took place the following
morning, at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen. His father was present to witness his
son being accorded full military honours. Second Lieutenant William Frederick
Jelley was interred in plot B. 4. Grave 14. The epitaph on his headstone reads:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course."
His will, that Lance Serjeant 12151, W. F. Jelley,
wrote and signed on the 28th July 1915, left £5 to his father, Charles William
Jelley of 124 Leopold Street, Loughborough, and the remaining property to his mother,
Temperence Jelley of the same address. On the 24th January she received £125
10s 2d.
As well as the Military Cross, Second Lieutenant
Jelley was awarded the 1915 Star, The Victory Medal and the British (Service)
Medal.
Second Lieutenant William Frederick Jelley is
remembered on the Carillon Tower War Memorial, St Peter's Church Roll of Honour
and Loughborough Grammar School's Roll of Honour.
© Karen Ette
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