Wilfred John Killmaster
Memorial: Warmley - Memorial Gardens - Stanley Road
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: Lance Bombardier 194621
Parents: Horace John and Edith Annie Killmaster
Marital status: Single
Home address: Home Address: Rose Cottage, Cann Lane, Wick Lived: 1901 Census – the family lived at Bridgeyate (between Warmley and Wick)
Pre-war occupation: Scholar on 1911 Census
Date of birth: 1899
Date of death: 23/10/1918
Buried/Commemorated at: St. Souplet British Cemetery (Ref. III. E. 7.), France
Age: 19
Further information:
Wilfred was born in 1899 1st quarter and Baptised at St Bartholomew's Church, Wick, on 11/01/1899. Although Wilfred’s birth registration was in the name of Killmaster, many records spell the surname with one L.
On the 1911 Census, Wilfred was staying with relatives (James and Sarah Willis) in Bridgeyate. His Father and 6 of his brothers and sisters were also living in Bridgeyate (his mother was not at home).
On the pension card, James and Sarah Willis are referred to as Wilfred’s foster parents (Sarah was his Aunt) and the dependant’s pension was paid to them. The soldier’s effects however were shared amongst his brothers and sisters.
Wilfred served with the 81st Battery, 5th Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery and died on 22 October 1918.
Wilfred is commemorated on four local memorials – Warmley Memorial Gardens - Stanley Road, Warmley Memorial and Community Centre (Deanery Road), Wick - St Bartholomew's Church and Wick Tabernacle United Reform Church. (The surname is spelt Kilmaster on all these memorials).
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Forces War Records.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Findmypast (Soldiers Died during the Great War, 1901 & 1911 Census etc), Researcher John Davis.