William James's Story.
Birkenhead News 22 December 1917
KILLED A MONTH AFTER MARRIAGE
Mr. and Mrs. A. Corlett, of 127, Oxton Road, have received word that their eldest son has fallen in battle. Private William J. Corlett, who has for some years lived in Scotland, where he was engaged in the building trade, joined the Seaforth Highlanders in February, 1915, and went out to France in May, 1915, where, with the exception of an occasional leave, he has been ever since. He was a man of wide experience, and had travelled all over the world in connection with his trade. It is sad to relate that Private W. J. Corlett was married so recently as November, the ceremony having taken place at Brunswick Weselyan Chapel, and very great sympathy is extended to his young widow.
In a letter received by the parents the commanding officer writes:- “Your son passed away doing his duty to his King and country. To us the loss is a great one.”
Mr. and Mrs. Corlett have two other sons, both of whom passed through the Dardanelles campaign. They both lived in Australia at the time of joining, and threw in their lot with their Australian brothers. One son is now discharged from the Army, and the other has been twice very severely wounded, but is now on home duty. He joined in September, 1914. They also have two sons-in-law serving, one in the East, and one on the Western front, and numberless nephews hailing from all quarters of the globe.