William's Story.
Lance Corporal William James Bettley died on 7th June 1917, aged 22.
(See also William Bertram Bettley aka Rogerson, who died on 10th October 1916, aged 25)
William James Bettley, known to his family as Willie, was born in July 1894, within the precincts of Haughton Hall, in the parish of Bunbury, near Tarporley. He grew up there until he was nine years old. By 1911 he was living at 29 Orchard Street, Northwich, and in 1915 at 13 Station Road, Weaverham. In 1918, his family lived on 388a High Street, Winsford. His parents were Harry Bettley (1869–1944) and Mary Ellen Betty Jackson (1867–1944), and he had an older brother, John Henry.
Lance Corporal William James Bettley died on 7th June 1917, aged 22.
Chester Chronicle - Saturday 23 June 1917
His brother John, known as Jack, served in the Royal Engineers in France during the Great War. He later returned to Cheshire and married Lavinia Thomas in 1919.
William was posthumously awarded the three campaign medals known as "Pip, Squak and Wilfred".
William is remembered on memorials at Long Lane, Haughton and St Mary's Church, Weaverham (below)
Memorial services took place in September 1917 for local men who had by then died in the Great War, including Lieutenant Francis Stuart Long, the only son of the local vicar at St Mary's Church, Weaverham. William's name is included in the list of those who were remembered on Sunday 9th September.
Northwich Guardian 14th Sep 1917
The plaque of names at Haughton came originally from the school on Long Lane which William had attended until the age of nine.
Researched by Shena Lewington (October 2025)
(See also William Bertram Bettley aka Rogerson, who died on 10th October 1916, aged 25)
William James Bettley, known to his family as Willie, was born in July 1894, within the precincts of Haughton Hall, in the parish of Bunbury, near Tarporley. He grew up there until he was nine years old. By 1911 he was living at 29 Orchard Street, Northwich, and in 1915 at 13 Station Road, Weaverham. In 1918, his family lived on 388a High Street, Winsford. His parents were Harry Bettley (1869–1944) and Mary Ellen Betty Jackson (1867–1944), and he had an older brother, John Henry.
Lance Corporal William James Bettley died on 7th June 1917, aged 22.
Chester Chronicle - Saturday 23 June 1917
His brother John, known as Jack, served in the Royal Engineers in France during the Great War. He later returned to Cheshire and married Lavinia Thomas in 1919.
William was posthumously awarded the three campaign medals known as "Pip, Squak and Wilfred".
William is remembered on memorials at Long Lane, Haughton and St Mary's Church, Weaverham (below)
Memorial services took place in September 1917 for local men who had by then died in the Great War, including Lieutenant Francis Stuart Long, the only son of the local vicar at St Mary's Church, Weaverham. William's name is included in the list of those who were remembered on Sunday 9th September.
Northwich Guardian 14th Sep 1917
The plaque of names at Haughton came originally from the school on Long Lane which William had attended until the age of nine.
Researched by Shena Lewington (October 2025)