Jollans, William
W. JOLLANS MC
William Jollans ('Will')
Chaplain 4th Class, Royal Army Chaplain's Department
Reverend, Royal Army Chaplain's Department
Rank of Captain
Awarded the Military Cross
Born 1887 at Donnington-on-Baine, near Louth
Son of William (a policeman from Northorpe) and Sarah (nee Grundy of Horncastle)
Worked as a farm boy after leaving school
Became pastor of the United Methodist Church 'where his genial disposition and his kindly interest in the welfare of the villagers generally gained for him wide esteem and popularity'
Brother Sydney killed on 9th May 1915 (web link below) and remembered on the Kirton-in-Lindsey War Memorial
Married Rachel Baron of Great Harwood, near Blackburn on 18th July 1916
That year he also enlisted into the Army
Sent to France in January 1917
Involved in the battle of Ypres
In early March 1918 he was 'home from the Western front on a well earned leave''
Officiated at the funeral of Richard Percival Eminson (main face)
A few days later returned to the front and attached to 9th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
On 10th April 1918, Will Jollans sent a letter home to his wife which began:-
'We are in the midst of a great battle and just at present while the situation is good it doesn't look as though either the doctor or myself are going to get away - although it is highly probable that we shall. However! By the time you get this, I may be a prisoner in Germany. If so, please don't worry about me as I shall write to you immediately they will allow me. Mark you this is quite the worst side of looking at the thing - tomorrow we may be safe out of it. But we can't leave the wounded to themselves and at present they can't evacuate them and our only means of escape is to leave them and make a dash for the river and swim it. The latter would be the way of a coward and while I value my liberty I can't entertain it...'
His wife received it with a covering note from Headquarters which reported he was missing and that the person who brought back the letter 'did not see your husband taken prisoner'
For his actions in this battle he was awarded the Military Cross.
Gazetted on 13th September 1918 the citation reads-
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went up with the motor ambulance cars under heavy shell and machine-gun fire, and assisted in dressing and carrying the wounded. Throughout the day he was of the greatest assistance to the R.A.M.C., whilst his cheerful courage under fire was most praiseworthy.’
In France when the Armistice was declared
Didn't continue as a minister; instead went into business and remained a local preacher
Children Margaret ('Peggy; born 1917), Christine (1921), William ('Bill'; 1924-2007) and Lewis (1925)
Still lived here in the 1930's; his telephone number was Scotter 6
Moved to Great Harwood and by 1935 to Birmingham
Had a variety of jobs and for a time he and his wife ran a business supplying cotton goods to hospitals
Became a Special Constable
Retired in the 1960s to Prizet, Kendal, Westmorland
Loved children and remembered as being great fun as a grandfather
A cheerful and optimistic family man
Died in 1965 aged 78 at Kendal