{"id":1315,"date":"2013-04-13T14:04:44","date_gmt":"2013-04-13T14:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/?page_id=1315"},"modified":"2025-01-27T14:30:23","modified_gmt":"2025-01-27T14:30:23","slug":"robert-dixon-wills","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/robert-dixon-wills\/","title":{"rendered":"Robert Dixon Wills"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-1315\" data-postid=\"1315\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-1315 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_c6b668d tb_first tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_2792ddb first\">\n                    <!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_gn59957 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n                <div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><h2><strong>Key Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Name:\u00a0<\/strong>Robert Dixon Wills<br><strong>DoB:\u00a0<\/strong>August 6 1893<br><strong>Regt:\u00a0<\/strong>London Regt &amp; 5th Border Regt.<br><strong>DoD:\u00a0<\/strong>April 23 1917<br><strong>Academic Career<\/strong>:\u00a0CGS 1905-7<\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col4-2 tb_i1ey341 last\">\n                    <!-- module image -->\n<div  class=\"module module-image tb_0t0y40 image-top   tf_mw\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"image-wrap tf_rel tf_mw\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"666\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/wills.jpg\" class=\"wp-post-image wp-image-691\" title=\"wills\" alt=\"wills\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/wills.jpg 666w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/wills-300x259.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/03\/wills-630x544.jpg 630w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 666px) 100vw, 666px\" \/>    \n        <\/div>\n    <!-- \/image-wrap -->\n    \n        <\/div>\n<!-- \/module image -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_394aa45 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_db72c64 first\">\n                    <!-- module accordion -->\n<div  class=\"module module-accordion tb_710c115 \" data-behavior=\"accordion\" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <h3 class=\"module-title\">Biographical Information<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"ui module-accordion   tb_default_color\">\n            <li class=\"builder-accordion-active\">\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-710c115-0\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-710c115-0-content\" aria-expanded=\"true\">\n                                                            Family Background                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-710c115-0-content\" data-id=\"acc-710c115-0\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"accordion-content tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_p6ig221\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_bctu221 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_czvt222   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p>Robert Dixon Wills was the youngest of ten children born to Isaac and Jane Wills of Greenspot near Kirkbride. Isaac was the village blacksmith, like his father and grandfather before him. Two of Robert\u2019s brothers, and at least one cousin and uncle were also blacksmiths. Robert was the only one of the family to attend the grammar school.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-710c115-1\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-710c115-1-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Academic Record                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-710c115-1-content\" data-id=\"acc-710c115-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_lfss222\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_5o0v222 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_ddn2222   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p>After leaving school Robert went to London and entered the Civil Service as a Boy Clerk in 1909<strong>.\u00a0<\/strong>By 1914 he was in the architect\u2019s department of \u00a0London County Council.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-710c115-2\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-710c115-2-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            War Service                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-710c115-2-content\" data-id=\"acc-710c115-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_ucj2222\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_8w8r222 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_7rhl222   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p>War was declared in August 1914 and Robert volunteered on September 1 1914. As he enlisted in London he joined a London Regiment. He must have impressed those around him as he rose rapidly through the ranks and by the summer of 1916 he was a corporal. He was so proficient in bayonet fighting that he was made an instructor. He was sent to Ireland in early 1916, possibly because of the Easter Rising.\u00a0 He was sent to France 21 June 21 1916.On August 8 1916 Robert was part of a raiding party, which was sent across no-man\u2019s land to raid the German trenches and secure prisoners. The raid was not a success as although the wire had been broken by mortars, the trench itself was barricaded. Most of the party withdrew but Robert managed to crawl under the barricade, secure a prisoner and return with him! As they withdrew they were bombarded by mortars and his commanding officer was wounded and he had to take refuge in a shell hole with another wounded man. In his commanding officer\u2019s report he says this about Robert,<\/p>\n<p><i>\u201cThis man was very plucky throughout the whole raid and I should like to bring his name to your notice\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<p>The Cumberland News describes the incident too \u201c<i>He (Robert) formed one of the party which raided the trenches of the enemy on a certain night. While returning to our trenches he lost his way and his rifle was smashed by a trench motar bomb. Finding himself close to a German trench, he entered it unarmed, rushed an armed German sentry and brought him back to our lines. He also took charge of two of our wounded men who had lost their way\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<p>Robert was awarded his Military Medal on September 21, and sent to Cadet School for a commission in October, he was commissioned as an officer and posted to the 5<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Border Regiment on Dec 22 1916.<\/p>\n<p>The Border Regiment was involved in heavy fighting at Wancourt on April 23\/24 1917, 74 men were killed or missing in action and 135 were wounded; Robert was one of the six officers who died. He was buried in a marked grave and after the war his body was exhumed and reburied in the Wancourt Military Cemetery.<\/p>\n<p>His obituary in the Cumberland News includes an extract of a letter sent to Robert\u2019s sister by one of his comrades Second Lieutenant James Thompson\u00a0<i>\u201cIt is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death in action of Second Lieutenant R. D. Wills. He was instantaneously killed by shrapnel just previous to the battalion advancing to the assault. I have known him intimately since he first joined us, and can assure you no officer was better loved and respected by everyone from the C.O. downwards, than he was. His body was brought back to a cemetery in a village near where he fell. A service was held by a clergyman and he was interred alongside three brother officers, who fell on the same day\u201d.<\/i>\u00a0Further on the obituary it says \u201c<i>Lieutenant Wills was a man of fine physique, and on more than one occasion his knowledge of Cumberland wrestling stood him in good stead in hand to hand encounters with the enemy, and in raids, etc.\u201d<\/i><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-710c115-3\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-710c115-3-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Battalion                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-710c115-3-content\" data-id=\"acc-710c115-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_3ss2222\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_bk39222 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_8518222   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p>Border Regt<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n            <li>\n            <div class=\"accordion-title tf_rel\">\n                <a href=\"#acc-710c115-4\" class=\"tb_title_accordion\" aria-controls=\"acc-710c115-4-content\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n                                                            Sources                <\/a>\n            <\/div><!-- .accordion-title -->\n            <div id=\"acc-710c115-4-content\" data-id=\"acc-710c115-4\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"accordion-content tf_hide tf_clearfix\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tb_sikw222\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column tb_92vn222 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_f719222   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p>a)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Carlisle School Memorial Register 1264-1924<\/p>\n<p>b)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Wylie page 128-130<\/p>\n<p>c)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 London Gazette 19<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Jan 1917<\/p>\n<p>d)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 National Archives<\/p>\n<p>e) \u00a0 \u00a0 Cumberland News 5\/5\/1917 and 30\/9\/1916<\/p>\n<p>f)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Census:HO 107 \/ 165\/9<\/p>\n<p>HO107\/2432\/47\/7<\/p>\n<p>RG9 3927<\/p>\n<p>RG10\/5228<\/p>\n<p>RG11\/5165\/96\/5<\/p>\n<p>RG12\/4296<\/p>\n<p>RG13\/4874<\/p>\n<p>RG14\/445\/78\/15<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <\/div><!-- .accordion-content -->\n        <\/li>\n        <\/ul>\n\n<\/div><!-- \/module accordion -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 Key Information Name:\u00a0Robert Dixon Wills DoB:\u00a0August 6 1893 Regt:\u00a0London Regt &amp; 5th Border Regt. DoD:\u00a0April 23 1917 Academic Career:\u00a0CGS 1905-7 Biographical Information Family Background Robert Dixon Wills was the youngest of ten children born to Isaac and Jane Wills of Greenspot near Kirkbride. Isaac was the village blacksmith, like his father and grandfather before [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":89,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1315","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1315"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1315\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5313,"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1315\/revisions\/5313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk\/warmemorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}