Willie was born in 1895 in Leicester and baptised on 23.10.1899 at St. Michael’s Church. His parents were Edward Smith Barsby, a boot and shoe worker and Annie Elizabeth (nee Gumley). They had 14 children
Annie Elizabeth 1879
Mary 1883
Joseph Edward 1885
Clara 1886
Rebecca 1888
Edward Samuel 1890
Alice 1892
Arthur Balfour 1894
Willie Gumley 1895
Evelyn Eliza 1897
Albert 1899
Ethel 1901
Daisy Maud 1902
Alfred 1904
In 1901 census the family lived at 156 Mount Road and Willie attended Bridge Road School.
In 1911 census they were at 22 Mere Road.
Willie was a clicker at the shoe factory of Smith, Faire & Co. before joining the army. He enlisted at the start of the war and became Sergeant 10038 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was Killed in Action, aged 20, on 17.7.1916. He is on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 2C and 3A) and on the memorial at St. Stephen’s Church, Leicester.
At the time of his death his family lived at 15 Wood Hill. His photograph is in Leicester Mail 5.8.1916 Pg 3.
