BORN BEVERLEY, 10/06/1883. SON OF HENRY PARK GILLYON (1851-1887) AND SARAH JANE RODEN (1851-1897), DYER LANE BEVERLEY. ONE OF TEN CHILDREN. AS A YOUTH GROWING UP IN BEVERLEY, WILLIAM IS FREQUENTLY IN TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE. LOCAL NEWSPAPERS REPORT THAT HE HAS BEEN CRUEL TO ANIMALS, STOLEN PIES, BROKEN A WINDOW, LEADING A GANG AND FIGHTING. IN 1901 AT THE AGE OF 18, HE MOVES TO HOWSHAM, YORKSHIRE TO WORK AS A WAGGONER ON A FARM. ON THE 17/08/1909, AT THE AGE OF 26, HE MARRIES EDITH ADELINE CORNER (1892-1963), IN HULL. THEY MOVE TO HEARFIELD TERRACE, HESSLE, WHERE HE WORKS AS A GENERAL LABOURER. IN 1910, AT THE AGE OF 26, WILLIAM IS AGAIN IN THE PAPERS FOR FIGHTING. THIS TIMES HE HAS BEEN ASSAULTED BY AN OLDER MAN WITH A BROOMSTICK HANDLE. IN 1911 WILLIAM RETURNS TO HULL , AND IS LIVING AT 3 NORMANS TERRACE, CAMPBELL STREET. HE IS WORKING AS A GENERAL LABOURER AND LIVING WITH HIS WIFE AT THIS SYKES STREET ADDRESS WHEN HE ENLISTS IN HULL ON THE 09/05/1915. HE STATES IN HIS ARMY RECORDS THAT HE HAS SERVED IN THE RESERVES FOR SIX YEARS. ON JOINING HE IS CONFINED TO BARRACKS FOR 2 DAYS FOR BEING ABSENT ON PARADE AT PRESTON, ON 01/07/1915. HE IS POSTED TO FRANCE ON 07/07/1915 AND KILLED AT LOOS, ON 29/09/1915, AGED 32.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE SENT TO HIS WIDOW, NOW EDITH E THOMPSON, LIVING AT 6 GORDON AVENUE, EASTBOURNE STREET, HULL. HOWEVER SHE WAS DENIED HIS WAR PENSION DUE TO HER “IMMORAL CONDUCT”.
HE IS LISTED ON THE SYKES STREET MEMORIAL WITH PTE, BENJAMIN GILLYON, 1ST EYR, WHO WAS KILLED ON THE SOMME, 14/07/1916. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL TIMES, ON 20/11/1915, WITH HIS PHOTOGRAPH. *
