WW1 Victory Medal named 15441 PTE W H WILBY DURH LI.
WW1 British War Medal named 74255 PTE J B WILBY DURH LI.
William Henry Wilby born 19th Apr 1894 in Coxhoe, Co Durham to William & Mary Wilby of Comforth Lane, Coxhoe, Co Durham. He was the oldest son and a 20 year old coal miner when he enlisted into the 14th Durham Light Infantry numbered 15441 on 8th Sep 1914. After training he landed in France on 11th Sep 1915 and was killed in action on 27th Sep 1915 when in the trenches at Potizse by a shell which was confirmed to his father but a machine gunner when they were heavily shelled.
John Branston Wilby born 16th Mar 1884 in Coxhoe, Co Durham to William & Mary Wilby of Comforth Lane, Coxhoe, Co Durham. He was the youngest son. He enlisted into the 11th Durham Light Infantry numbered 74255 before transferring to the 11th Royal Fusiliers numbered GS-100282. On 21st Sep 1918 the regiment was tasked with helping the 2nd Bedfordshire Regt in attacking the enemy at Basse Boulogne South under heavy machine gun fire but the trenches were taken and the enemy retreated, sadly John was listed as missing, then presumed killed in action aged 21 years old. He is remembered on the Vis en Artois Memorial.
William & Mary Wilby had only two children, both sons killed in WW1.
