| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
John William Austin Wiles was born in Beverley the 4 Mar 1883 and baptised at Beverley Minster the 1 Apr 1883, the son of local tanner's labourer, William Wiles and Agnes (nee Forbes). John was brought up on St Andrew Street, Beverley and later at 3 New Villas, Chantry Lane. He served as a butcher's apprentice before moving to Hull fully qualified. John was a chorister at Beverley Minster and had received a good conduct medal. On 29 Jul 1906, he married Laura Emily Deyes at St John, Newington, Hull. By 1911 they were living in Flinton Street, they had three children, William Forbes born 1908, Frederick born 1910 and Emily born 1913.
John enlisted in Hull in 1915, joining the 1/4th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment as a private. John was sent to France after training and took part in the Battle of the Somme, the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in mid-Sep 1916. The 1/4th were fighting in the vicinity of Martinpuich alongside the 4th and 5th battalions of the Yorkshire Regiment. The action began on 15 Sep with the first attack led by tanks at 06.00am. The objectives were German trenches and the attacks were beaten off, amidst heavy German shelling and machine gun fire on the 15th. A renewed attack on the 16th was a further failure. The 1/4th suffered heavy casualties: 2 officers were killed as were 30 Other Ranks; 13 men were missing and 195 wounded. John was amongst those killed in unknown circumstances. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial on the Somme. He was awarded the War and Victory Medals.
John is commemorated on the Hengate War Memorial in Beverley but listed as "J.W.A.Wilds". He is also remembered on the East Riding Memorial in Beverley Minster. His wife, Laura, died in 1928.
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |