Tilsley Brothers WW1 Death Plaque & Medal Set - for William Tilsley (Mons 1914 Star) and Joseph Arthur Tilsley (enlisted underage and Mentioned In Dispatches) both killed in action.
Supplied with copies of extensive research materials, including images of William, Joseph's signed attestation that he enlisted underage and under an incorrect name of Percy. Also pages from the HLI War Diary relating to Joseph.
William - 1914 Mons Star and War Medal. His Victory medal was stated as lost by the previous owner of the collection.
Joseph - War Medal and Victory Medal with MID clasp, together with original machine gun Corps cap badge.
Both plaques in their original card packets.
Private/Rifleman William Tilsley (5480), 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade
Born to Jane and George Tilsley in 1892 St Paul's, Warwick. He was a Greenkeeper who enlisted to the 2nd Battlalion, Rifle Brigade, with service number 5280, sometime before October 1914, likely around the same time as his brother Joseph attempted to enlist in April. If this is true, William would have been with the 2nd in Kuldana, India when war broke out in August, arriving back in Britian on the 20th September. The 2nd landed at Le Havre on 6th November 1914, seeing action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915 and the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915. The battalion were digging supports trenches in the vicinity of Aubers Ridge when William was killed in action on the morning of 15th June 1915, age 23, by a rifle bullet to the head whilst on guard duty. Company Sergeant Major G. A. Robson wrote to Jane Tilsley saying “I am sorry indeed to inform you that your son, no. 5480, Rifleman W. Tilsley, was killed in action this morning. He was hit in the head by a rifle bullet, being killed instantly. You have our deepest sympathy in your great loss. It is our loss as well for your son was thought well of by officers and men. He gave his life for his country, and died at his post. He was buried in the regimental graveyard, where his grave will be cared for. We are left awhile to mourn his loss. I enclose the few photographs, thinking you might care to keep them in dear remembrance- I remain yours sincerely, G A Robson, Company Sergeant Major”. Presumably a friend, Rifleman Finlay also wrote to Jane Tilsley saying “To you his company send their deepest sympathy for your relative was beloved by the whole of his colleagues. He died at his post while guarding the rest of his comrades. He was a brave man, and he died like a brave man should. This must be a consolation to you amidst your grief”. His death was mentioned in several newspapers, including Birmingham Gazette 22/06/1915, pg 5, Coventry Graphic 02/07/1915, pg. 14, Coventry Herald 25/06/1915, pg. 6, Coleshill Herald 26/06/1915, pg. 5, Coventry Evening Telegraph 23/06/1915, pg. 2 and the Coventry Standard 25/06/1915, pg. 10.
He is buried at Aubers Bridge Cemetery, Grave VIII. A.3. with inscription “HIM THAT COMETH TO ME I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT R.I.P.”
Private Joseph Arthur Tilsley (5461, 46218, 55741) Machine Gun Corps, 1st/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion Highland Light Infantry
Born to Jane and George Tilsley in 1899 St Paul's, Warwick. He first enlisted in April 1914 under the alias Percy Tilsley, claiming to be 18 years and 228 days old, when he was in fact only 17. He was let in and enlisted to the Rifle Brigade with service number 5461. However he was found in May when he was forced to write an admission and was discharged for making a false statement of age. He later re-enlisted, (its unclear when but judging by the articles on William’s death saying his mother had two sons in service it was before June 1915). He joined the Machine Gun Corps with service number 46218, where he was mentioned in dispatches, but eventually transferred to the 1/5th (City of Glasgow) Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry with service number 55741. The 1/5th had originally been based in Egypt, its unclear when Joseph joined them but he was certainly with them by the time they arrived on the Western Front from Alexandria on the 11th April 1918. They then took up positions on the front line near Vimy on the 6th May, before moving to the surroundings of Arras where they took part in the Battle of Albert. On the 23rd August, the battalion moved from Bellacourt to North East of Ficheux and prepared for an assault on the Hindenburg Line to push forwards to the Scarpe. On the 24th the battalion assaulted the Hindenburg Line, being caught crossing the Cojeul river and in the thick wire guarding the German lines. Joseph was killed in action during this attack on the 24th August 1918, aged 19. He is buried in Wancourt British Cemetery, grave VII. H. 24. with inscription “GOD BE WITH YOU TILL WE MEET AGAIN R.I.P.”
