Saddler/Corporal Ernest Hartley Willan
2243 14th Kings Hussars
Died 22nd December 1916
Lived at 151 Coal Clough Lane
Buried in the Amara war Cemetery, Iraq
Burnley Express 24th February 1917 - 24th February 1917 - 24th February 1917

Born during Q1 1889 at Burnley, Lancashire, England.
In the 1901 England Census, living with family at Burnley, Lancashire, England.
During Q1 1910, father Alfred Willan died.
About late 1906, Willan enlisted at Burley, Lancashire England in the 14th (King’s) Hussars as a Private, and then trained at Folkestone, Kent, England and then at Curragh Camp, County Kildare, Ireland.
By at least late 1907, Willan embarked from England when a draft left for Bangalore, Mysore, India.
In the 1911 England Census at Bangalore, Mysore, India as a Private.
On 08 November 1915, Willan embarked on the Hired Transport Ship Elephanta at Karachi, Sindh, India and disembarked at Basrah (Basra), Mesopotamia on 14 November 1915 with “A” Squadron.
Promoted from Private to Saddler Corporal.
About mid-December 1916, Willan became seriously ill Bassouia (Iman Sayyid Mansur), Mesopotamia, and transported to Amara (Amarah), Mesopotamia.
On the evening of 22 December 1916 at 6:45, Willan Died due to dilation of the heart at a British military hospital at Amara (Amarah), Mesopotamia shortly after he arrived at the hospital.
During Q4 1917, mother Susannah Willan (nee Hartley) remarried to George Barnes at Burnley, Lancashire, England.
See Appendix II for death notice and detailed report.
Commemorated on Todmorden War Memorial, Yorkshire and in Greater Burnley Roll of Honour 1914 to 1918, both in England.

Son of Susannah Willan (nee Hartley) and the late Alfred Willan. During Q4 1917, remarried to George Barns of 31 Every Street at Burnley, Lancashire, England.

(Courtesy of Bruce Calderbank, Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

“BURNLEY HUSSARS DEATH"
Seized With Fatal Illness in Field Operations
Burnley Express 24th February 1917

Another Burnley family to suffer through the war is that of the Willans of I51 Coal Clough Lane, Mrs. Willan having lost her second son, Saddler Corporal Ernest H. Willan, whose death occurred on December 22nd last, at No. 2 Rawal Pindi Hospital, in the East. The deceased young fellow entered the Army about ten years ago, and joined a well-known Hussars regiment. After a short training at Folkestone and the Curragh Camp, Ireland, he was drafted to India, where he was for seven years prior to the war. For fifteen months he had been in the sphere of operations where he met his death. He was 28 years of age, and in his last letter to his mother he stated he was in the best of health. Soon after he was taken ill whilst engaged in field operations, and sent into the hospital, where he died almost immediately. Official- intimation has only just been received by his mother, owing to some delay. His death came as a real blow to the family. In his last letter he had expressed, a wish to see dear old Burnley again after so many years away.

In a letter the matron of the hospital says: "I regret to inform you that your son, Saddler Corporal E. H, Willan (2343), came to us off a boat from up the river very seriously ill, and died almost immediately he came into the hospital. He was far too ill to speak to us, but you will be glad to know that a sister was with him when he died, and that there were sisters on the boat he came down the river by, so I assure you that everything was done to aid him, but his heart gave out. I have just seen the minister, and he is writing to tell you of the poor lad’s funeral. He died at 6:45 on the evening of the 22nd December, 1916, and was buried the following day. With sincere regrets at having to communicate to you the sad news.”

The Reverend A. Jones, Wesleyan chaplain, wrote: “I expect you have received particulars of your son from the matron. I am writing with reference to the funeral service, which took place in our little English cemetery here in [Amara]. He was laid to rest by his comrades in a lovely spot under the palms. It was a sorrowful yet hopeful service. I certainly felt the comfort of the One who has abolished death. I feel no words of mine are adequate at such a time. But He has taught us not to sorrow as those without hope. Your dear son lives in Him. God will make plain the mystery, and supply all comfort and strength. I have a record of the grave, and hope to get you a photo when a cross is erected.”

Another son, H. B. Willan, is at present lying wounded in Wanstead Military Hospital, Essex, after having been in France three months.”

Willan – Died in hospital, on December 22nd, 1916, Saddler Corporal Ernest Hartley Willan of the Hussars, aged 28 years. – From the family, 151, Coal Clough Lane, Burnley. – “Some time we’ll understand.””

Source: Burnley Express and Clitheroe Division Advertiser, 24 February 1917, page 10.