Steve Henry Willis in World War One

Steve Henry Willis served as a driver in the 15th (Scottish) Division Artillery Column of the Royal Field Artillery regimental number 75268 B/306th brigade. This Division was established by the Scottish Command in September 1914, as part of the Army Orders authorising Kitchener's Second New Army, K2.

Steve was aged 36 when he enlisted on 12 January 1915 at Holloway. He was working as a horse carman and was a father to six children at the time, three girls and three boys, the youngest, Charlotte, being aged just 14 months. He had been married for sixteen years to Kate Patrick and he had I love Kate Patrick tattooed on his left forearm, his right forearm had tattoos of a horseshoe and whip. At five feet three inches tall and weighing only 117 pounds he was described by his son Charles as "a little man with black hair parted in the middle". His nickname was "Darkie Willis" due to his dark complexion.

On enlisting in January 1915 he trained at Preston and according to his son Charles he “went out and got drunk by 9am and joined up whilst drunk”. By 22 January 1915 the Division was in uniform for an inspection by Kitchener. By the early summer of 1915, the Division was considered to be ready for France and embarkation orders were received on 3 July 1915 with the 15th Division landing in France between 7 – 13 July 1915. According to his son Charles, Steve “looked after the horses that pulled the guns on the front line”.

Steve first served in France between 10 July 1915 – 4 March 1917 where he took part in the following battles.

The Battle of Loos 25 September - 18 October 1915

The actions of Spring 1916
The Division was involved in German gas attacks near Hulluch 27-29 April 1916
The defence of the Kink position 11 May 1916

The Battles of the Somme 1916
The Battle of Pozieres 23 July - 3 September 1916
The Battle of Flers-Courcelette in which the Division captured Martinpuich 15 - 22 September 1916 - the British Army used tanks for the first time in this battle.
The Battle of Le Transloy - took part in attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt 1 - 18 October 1916



A photo of the French village of Pozières taken 28 August 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The photo is taken from south of the Albert-Bapaume road looking north through the remains of the back gardens

Steve was admitted to Bermondsey Military Hospital, Ladywell, on 5 March 1917 with myalgia and he missed the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe in April 1917, part of the Arras Offensive which his Division fought in.

His Army medical record states: “Reported sick January 26th 1917 on the Somme with pains in legs (joints) and back, no fever present. On admission here (March 5th 1917) the pains still present but much less severe and chiefly in legs and ankles. On examination no evidence of inflammation in joints, mouth septic (???pzerrhera) some emphysema with overlapping of cardiac dullness. Heart normal. Whe?? Of Rheumatic Fever or Scarlet Fever or Cholera? No Rheumatism in the family. Good progress – no pain throughout. Gained 5 ¾ lbs.”

According to his son Charles “he was sent home because he got trench fever and he was sent to hospital where he got peritonitis”.

Steve's symptoms in his medical records agree with the diagnosis of trench fever. It is a disease transmitted by body lice and commonly infected the armies in World War I, from 1915 to 1918 between one-fifth and one-third of all British troops reported ill had trench fever. The bacteria is transmitted by contamination of a skin abrasion or louse-bite wound with the faeces of an infected body louse. The onset of symptoms is usually sudden with high fever, severe headache, pain on moving the eyeballs, soreness of the muscles of the legs and back, and frequently hyperaesthesia of the shins. The initial fever is usually followed in a few days by a single, short rise but there may be many relapses between periods without fever. The most constant symptom is pain in the legs. Recovery takes a month or more.

Steve was discharged from hospital on 23 April 1917 and on 25 April he was posted back to France where he took part in the following battles.

Third Battles of Ypres
The Battle of Pilckem 31 July - 2 August 1917
The Battle of Langemark 16 - 18 August 1917



Ypres, the British soldiers "Wipers," was the scene of much of the bloodiest fighting of the war. Three great battles were fought for its possession. The photograph shows what was once the market place.

First Battles of the Somme 1918
The First Battle of Bapaume 24 - 25 March 1918
The First Battle of Arras 28 March 1918

The Final Battles of the Marne 1918
The Battle of the Soissonnais and of the Ourcq including the attack on Buzancy 23 July - 2 August 1918

He was on furlough between 3 August 1918 – 17 August 1918 and he then returned to France 18 August 1918 – 15 January 1919 where he took part in the following.

Advance in Artois 2 October - 11 November 1918

Steve was finally posted home 16 January 1919 and he was discharged 31 March 1920.

The 15th (Scottish) Division served with distinction on the Western Front, taking part in most of the significant actions and winning regard by the enemy as one of the most formidable in the British army. Steve was awarded three WWI campaign medals - the 1914-1915 Star, The British War medal and the Victory medal.

Sources:
Battle information - The Long, Long Trail
National Archives ref: WO 363/W 1417 Army papers for Steve Henry Willis
Photo source Wikipedia Commons - Crown Copyright expired