William Prothero, known to all as ‘Willie’, was born at Codnor Park, Derbyshire in 1894. The son of John James, an iron puddler and Elizabeth Prothero, who later moved to Back Lane, Jacksdale. (Back Lane’ is, in fact, now known as Barrows Hill Lane). Previously, however the family lived at 3 Albert Street, Ironville. Known children of the marriage were as follows:-  John Thomas, Henry, William, Sam  and George  and Archie. 

William’s brother Harry (Henry)  Prothero is also listed on the Jacksdale Memorial as having served during World War One and survived, although he was blinded in one eye. Harry was a resident of Dixie Street and had at least one son, named Roy (who was to marry Betty Swain of Jacksdale). Sam was known to have attended Ironville School in 1906, (with fellow classmates, Leslie Lemon, George Wilmott and Harry Heald – all of whom fell during WW1) and would have been aged 22 or 23 years old at the time of William’s death. William also had two sisters, Mabel and Marian.  Mabel kept house for brothers George and Archie at the family home on Barrows Hill Lane.  Marian married, moving to Nottingham. John Thomas also married taking up residence in the nearby village of Underwood, Notts.

 Private William Prothero enlisted at Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, date unknown. He was killed in action on Tuesday 8th October 1918, only one month before Armistice Day, aged 25 years. He died a bachelor. He is buried at Montbrehain British Cemetery, Aisne, France, where 90 casualties of the 1914-18 War are buried.  Montbrehain village was taken on 3rd October 1918 by three battalions of the Sherwood Foresters, but it could not be held at the time. It was finally captured, two days later by the 21st & 24th Australian Infantry Battalions. 

The 1915 Electoral Roll lists Thomas Prothero of New Westwood and John James Prothero of Back Lane.  We would be interested to establish whether they were relatives. 

Last Updated 28^th Dec 2002