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William Harold Gillett
140831, Air Mechanic 2nd Class, Recruits Training Wing, Royal Air Force
Died of illness, 31 October 1918, aged 34
Buried at Llanrhos Churchyard
CWGC registered (Husband of Annie Beddam [formerly Gillett], of Sefton Cottage, Deganwy, Carnarvonshire)
THE PATH OF DUTY WAS THE WAY TO GLORY
William Harold Gillett was born in Yorkshire and lived in Deganwy. He appears in this listing because he was interred in 1918 in Llanrhos Churchyard which was within the boundary of the Llandudno Urban District.
William Harold Gillett, the son of William Gillett and his second wife Mary Ann Gillett (née Tate) was born on 5 April 1884 at Greasbrough, Yorkshire. When William Harold Gillett was baptised on 4 February 1887, the family’s address was Chapel Street, Greasbrough and his father was described as a gardener. In 1891, the family of three lived at “Mill Cottages”, Sandon, Staffordshire. The family moved to Llanrhos for in October 1897, William Harold was recorded at Deganwy National School. In 1901, the family lived at “Marl Cottage”, Llanrhos; William Gillett (56) was described as a gardener and William Harold (16) as an apprentice upholsterer. William Gillett died in 1903 and his wife died on 24 March 1908. Probate records indicate that Mary Ann Gillett’s address was “Iygwyn”, Marl Lane, Llanrhos; she left her effects of £48 11s 6d to her son. The Census of Wales for 1911 records William Harold boarding at “Belle View”, Station Road, Deganwy; he was working as an upholsterer on his own account. Later that month on 27 April 1911, William Harold Gillett married Annie Warner (b 1882) at Llanrhos Parish Church.
On 23 March 1918, William Harold Gillett was enlisted into the Royal Flying Corps which became the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918. His RAF service number was 140831 and his rank was Air Mechanic 3rd Class. His home address was recorded by the RAF as “Rosebank”, Deganwy. The date of his promotion to air mechanic 2nd class is unknown. William Harold Gillett died of purulent bronchitis at Tarrant Monkton Military Hospital, Blandford Forum, Dorset on 31 October 1918 aged 34. His body was returned to Deganwy and he was buried at Llanrhos Parish Church.
Annie Gillett married John Mills Beddow in 1921. She died on 8 January 1960.
Known memorials:
- Deganwy section, Llanrhos Parish War Memorial
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