Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
John Bill was born in 1899. He was the son of John Bill and his wife Caroline. The family lived in Shop Lane, Brewood, where John senior worked on his own account as a carpenter.
John enlisted at Hednesford and joined the South Staffordshire Regiment. He died on 24th September 1917, at the Military Hospital, Lichfield shortly after 'joining up'. He was 18. He is buried in the churchyard of SS Mary & Chad, Brewood.
As Private 46421 John Bill died during initial training, he was not awarded any medals and was 'not admissible' for the war gratuity that was paid to men who had served for 6 months or more.
The commemoration of John Bell on the War Memorial at St Mary's Catholic Church was thought to refer to the same man but the discovery of the following news item from the Staffordshire Advertiser suggests that this is unlikely.
DEATH OF A YOUNG MAN. Mr. John Bill, a member of an old Brewood family, received notification on Monday of the death of one of his sons, John Bill, jun., at Lichfield. The deceased had been in ill-health for a long time, but was passed for service, and joined up on the 17th inst. and died at Lichfield on Sunday. He attained the age of 18 years in July last. He was organist at the Wesleyan Chapel. Much sympathy is expressed with his relatives and friends. [Staffordshire Advertiser, 29 September 1917]
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.