William Walderham [Billy] Kettle was born on the 10th September 1898, at 26 Thompson Street, South Shields the son of John Robert Kettle, an Engine Man, born 1859, died Saturday, 6th September 1919, [John Robert Kettle fell from a tramcar and died in the Ingham Infirmary, residing at 94 Stainton Street, South Shields, a verdict of 'Accidental Death' was recorded at an inquest, died as a result of injuries received through falling off the step of a tramcar which he had boarded whilst in motion], and his second wife Sarah Jane Smith, born 1871, died April 1913.

Source : Hartlepool Daily Mail Wednesday 10/09/1919.

John Robert Kettle went to the South Shields Union Board School, 29th August 1870 age 12, then married Winifred Stewart in 1881, [born 1863, but died 18th April 1887], they had one child, a daughter Mary Winifred Kettle, born 14th April 1883 at Bents Cottages. They were residing with Winifred's parents at Bents Cottages in 1881. John Robert Kettle [Williams father], was the eldest son of twelve children, [nine survived], to William Kettle, [born Barrow-upon-Soars, Leicestershire, 1824, died on the 8th March 1919], and his wife Mary Bradley, [daughter of Robert and Mary Bradley], born 1832, Malton, Yorkshire, died April 1913. They were married in Malton on the 21st August 1853. William was an Engine driver for the Tyne Commissioners and resided at the Bents Cottages from about 1854. By 1901 William and his wife, including James Agnes and Christine were residing at 90 Stainton Street, prior to residing at 94 Stainton Street, South Shields by 1911.

The other children were Jane, born 16th December 1854, [she married a George Pearson, born 11th March 1855?, and had resided at Commercial Road and 2 Cornwallis Square, South Shields, they had 7 children], Emma, born January 1862, married on the 6th December 1883 to Robert Weightman, [born 1860], at St Stephens Church, died on the 21st February 1939, James born 1st September 1862, a Tugboat man, he attended the South Shields Union Board School from the 19th May 1873, aged 9 years 11 months, [he married a Christine Aulty, {daughter of Joseph Aulty}, born 1867, died September 1938, on the 12th August 1885 at St Stephens Church, South Shields], James died 22nd June 1948, at his residence address of 76 Bath Road, South Shields. They had six children, four of them served in the forces in World War 1. [Herbert William Kettle, born 7th June 1889, baptised on the 23rd June 1889, married Hannah S. Young in 1918, she died and Herbert then re-married Else C. Hinrichsen in 1949].

Herbert was found dead in the engine room of the tug 'The Marty' on Sunday 20th May 1951, the discovery was made by the manager Mr B. Whitaker. 'The Marty' was tied up at Stanhope buoys, he was 61 and resided at 76 Bath Street, South Shields, James Kettle, born 6th June 1888, baptised on the 27th June 1888, at St Hilda's church, who enlisted in the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 16th January 1906, aged 17 years 7 months, service number 8338, John Kettle born 2nd Jun 1891, he enlisted into the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, died 1930, and a William Walderham Kettle, born 3rd August 1895, baptised on the 25th August 1895 at St Hilda's church, who emigrated and joined the 8th Battalion Australian Infantry Battalion, service nu 3373]. There were two daughters Christine Kettle, born 22nd May 1893 and Hilda born 1897.

Mary Ann born 1865, Jeanette, born 26th September 1866, married Robert Hales, born 26th March 1866, a Marine Engineer, son of the late Captain Robert Hales on the 21st August 1893 at St Michael's Church Westoe, in 1911 they were residing at 5 Oxford Avenue, South Shields, with one child Robert J. Hales born 1901, in 1939 they were residing at 4 Warwick Road, South Shields, with their daughter, Jeanetta (Jean) Hales, born 27th November 1903, {a Chartered Accountant Clerk}, died on the 25th December 1946, Eliza, born 1870, died in December 1941, Agnes, born 15th August 1873, [married 2nd January 1904 at St Aidans, Henry Heslop], died 30th January 1911 and Christina born 3rd August 1876, baptised at St Hilda's on the 10th September 1876, married a Frederick Stewart, in 1905, [born 1879], and were residing at 100 Handslip Terrace, Westoe, South Shields with their first child Vera Stewart.

John Robert Kettle had another three children to his second wife, Richard Smith, born 4th June 1890, joined the Royal Navy on the 4th June 1908, for 12 years, [became a Master at Arms by 1937, service nu P/MX 81941, received the King George VI Coronation Medal], died 1976, John Thomas, born 1892, and of course William Walderham [Billy] Kettle, died 12th October 1980 at Acomb, York, where he resided for the last ten years before his death.

William was residing at 16 Straker Terrace, Tyne Dock, South Shields with his brother John Thomas Kettle and his mother Sarah Jane Kettle in 1911, with two boarders, Hugh Smith and a Patrick John Malone.

William enlisted as soon as he was old enough at 18, on the 8th September 1916, into the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry, service nu 73859 with the rank of private. He was about 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed about 140lb.

At some stage of his war career, he was wounded and lost a toe. He came home on leave to the UK to recover. Due to his wounds, reportedly lost a toe whilst wounded he was invalided out of the infantry and was discharged on the 6th March 1919 with the Silver War Badge nu B183905. The reason was King's Regulations paragraph 2, a, XVI.
No longer physically fit for War Service, a, during a period of war or demobilization. Having suffered impairment since entry into the service..

William Walderham Kettle married Rebecca [Betty], Taylor, [born 22nd April 1900], youngest daughter of William Taylor, [born 1861, Durham, and his wife Rebecca. They were married in 1893 and had four children, Robinson Taylor, born Birtley, 1896, William Taylor, born 1898, and Ellen Taylor born in 1899, in South Shields], in March 1923.

'Billy' was a professional footballer, who made his debut on the 6th April 1918 V Bradford Park Avenue. He joined Leeds City as a junior and the nineteen year old schoolboy made his debut as Outside left. They won the match 2-1., however, after unfulfilled promises he returned to the North East. He joined First division Newcastle United Football team in 1919. But did not make the first team. He was released by Newcastle and joined Welsh League Ebbw Vale, then third division South Southend United in 1921, at Roots Hall he scored once in thirty one League games and once in two F.A. Cup ties. He joined Third Division North Grimbsy Town in 1922 and scored three times in sixteen League games. He stayed in the Third Division and joined Southport, Haigh Avenue, in 1923. He scored once in eighteen League games and also played in four F. A. cup ties. William then moved to Springfield Park, Wigan Borough in 1923/4 and made his debut on the 23rd February 1924, against Barow at Holker Street which resulted in a 2-1 home win. Billy stayed for three seasons before retiring at the end of the 1925/26 season. He scored thirteen goals in thirty nine league appearances and featured in three F.A. Cup matches. He also played 2 Lancashire Senior games, scoring in a 1-3 defeat against Accrington Stanley on the 14th October 1925.
Clubs he was involved in were Leeds City, South Shields, Newcastle United, Ebbw Vale, Southend United, Grimsby Town, Southport and Wigan Borough.

He has the unfortunate honour of playing for five teams that at one time or another were forced to give up their League places. Leeds, for making illegal payments to players!

In 1939 they were residing at 5 Saint Judes Terrace, South Shields, with Rebecca's widowed mother, also called Rebecca, [she was born at Haswell, Durham on the 21st December 1868]. His occupation was described as Brewers Drayman, [heavy work], he had been employed with Westoe Brewery.

William Walderham Kettle died on the 12th October at 9 Grantham Drive, Acomb, York. He left £4778 in his will.

William Walderham [Billy] Kettle is remembered at Newcastle on NUT168.

Research: Paul Joannou/James Pasby

Wigan Borough History
History South Shields AFC