Name
William Jelley
27/04/1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/03/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20843
King's Shropshire Light Infantry
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing in France
UK & Other Memorials
Kings Langley Village Memorial. All Saints Church Memorial, Kings Langley
Pre War
William Jelly/Jelley was born on 27 April 1878, in Abthorpe, Northamptonshire, son of John Hinds Jelly, (1841-1895) a shepherd and Charlotte Elizabeth Jelly, (1846-1922) (nee Furness). One of five children Mary Ann (B 1869), Sarah (B 1871), John (B 1873) and James (B 1886).
He was Baptised William Jelly, on 23 June 1878, in the Parish Church, Abthorpe, Northamptonshire.
1881 Census records William aged 3, living with his parents, sisters, Mary and Sarah, and brother John, in Abthorpe, Northamptonshire.
1891 Census records William aged 12, at school, living with his parents, and brothers John and James, in Abthorpe.
In early 1895 his father John Jelly died, aged 54. Following the death of his father, William, his younger brother James, and his mother Charlotte moved to Abbots Langley, Herts, to live with his married sister Mary Ann and her husband Herbert Lambert.
1901 Census records William, his mother and younger brother, James living with his sister Mary Ann Lambert, her husband Herbert and their five children, in Railway Terrace, Abbots Langley, Herts. His occupation is given as a Bricklayers Labourer.
On 7 July 1906, William married Emily Green the daughter of George Green at St Mary’s Church, Hanwell, Middlesex. They went on to have four children, William Arthur, Amy Lillian, Reginal and Ellen Rose.
1911 Census records William as (William Jelley), aged 32, married to Emily, and they have two children, William and Amy Jelley, the family were living in Primrose Hill, Kings Langley, Herts, and his occupation is given as a Bricklayer.
At the time he enlisted he was employed by Albert Timberlake (Builder).
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Kings Langley, Herts, posted to the Suffolk Regiment with the service number 40053. He was later transferred to the 5th Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, with the service number 20843.
He was Killed in Action on 18 March 1917, aged 38, he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing in France.
Additional Information
His wife Emily was awarded a widow’s pension of 28/9 a week from 4 October 1917, for herself and the four children. The family were still living in Primrose Hill, Kings Langley. The value of his effects was £2-5s-4d, Pay Owing and £3, War Gratuity which went to his wife Emily and their four children.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
