Diss Family History Group

William Ernest FORTIS, son of Harry FORTIS (c. 1871-c. 1949) and Florence Emily FLATMAN (c. 1878-c. 1949), was born on 16 April 1896 in Bressingham, Norfolk. William was baptised on 22 November 1908 in Bressingham - born 16.04.1896, base born, mother Florence FORTIS. William was attested into the military on 10 January 1916. - Yorkshire Regiment, Private 24263. On enlisting, William’s father was given as Harry FORTIS, resident in North Lopham. William was transferred on 9 June 1916 to West Riding Regiment, Private 5872. From 15 June 1916 he served in France. From 20 November 1916 he served on home soil. He was transferred on 23 June 1917 to 411th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps, and later to the 472nd Company. He was transferred on 25 July 1919 to Royal Army Medical Corps, Private 161212. He was discharged on 27 August 1920 return address: 13 North Street, Bridgetown, Cannock Chase. He died circa 1977 - Civil Register showing dob as 16.04.1896.

Life facts about William have been entered into Family Historian. Show this.

Last updated: Thu, 09 Apr 2026
FORTIS, William Ernest
Family Historian Individual Narrative William Ernest FORTIS, son of Harry FORTIS (c. 1871-c. 1949) and Florence Emily FLATMAN (c. 1878-c. 1949), was born on 16 April 1896 in Bressingham, Norfolk. The 1901 Census (held on 31 Mar 1901) shows William at Fen Street in Bressingham - 5, living with uncle Henry FORTIS (29, ordinary agricultural labourer) and his family. William was baptised on 22 November 1908 in Bressingham - born 16.04.1896, base born, mother Florence FORTIS. At the time of the 1911 Census, William was living at Valley F..... View full FH text (See notes below) View Family Tree (See notes below)
Birth:	16.04.1896 : Bressingham, Norfolk : 1896 Q2 Guiltcross Norfolk Vol 4B Page 246
Baptism:	22.11.1908 : Bressingham, Norfolk : born 16.04.1896, base born, mother Florence FORTIS.
Marriage:	27.08.1923 to Lily MITCHELL : 1923 Q3 Cannock Staffordshire Vol 6B Page 1064 : Cannock, Staffordshire
1901 Census:	Bressingham, Norfolk : 5, living with uncle Henry FORTIS (29, ordinary agricultural labourer) and his family. (RG13 Piece 1865 Folio 111 Page 15 Schedule 104)
1911 Census:	Bressingham, Norfolk : 15, labourer on farm, living in the household of George PEARCE (69, farmer) and his family. (RG14 PN11447 RD230 SD2 ED5 SN22)
1921 Census:	Cannock, Staffordshire : 25y 2m, clay wheeler, boarding in the household of Willie MITCHELL (56y 11m, jobbing bricklayer) and wife Mary Elizabeth MITCHELL (55y 2m) and their children Fred Charles (19y 7m, rope runner in mine), Jo Henry (18y 1m, gripper in mine) and Lily (24y 3m, assisting mother). (Willie’s daughter Lily was to become William’s wife.) (RG15 Piece 12981 Schedule 29 RD 368 RS 2 ED 9)
Death:	1977 : 1977 Q2 Cannock Chase Vol 30 Page 0547
Elect. Roll:	William is shown on the 1920 and 1921 electoral registers as resident in North Lopham.
Military:	William was attested into the military on 10 January 1916. - Yorkshire Regiment, Private 24263. On enlisting, William’s father was given as Harry FORTIS, resident in North Lopham. William was transferred on 9 June 1916 to West Riding Regiment, Private 5872. From 15 June 1916 he served in France. From 20 November 1916 he served on home soil. He was transferred on 23 June 1917 to 411th Agricultural Company of the Labour Corps, and later to the 472nd Company. He was transferred on 25 July 1919 to Royal Army Medical Corps, Private 161212. He was discharged on 27 August 1920 return address: 13 North Street, Bridgetown, Cannock Chase.
SQL: SELECT * FROM TotalInfo WHERE Ref = 149

Images

Yorkshire Regiment

Labour Corps

Royal Army Medical Corps

(Click on an image to enlarge)

Further information

.....

Notes:

If anyone has any information about the Lopham man named above, and is willing to share it, please make contact.
The link after the Family Historian text below the subject’s name will open the FH Individual Narrative for that person that will include all the references to the data.
If there is a name in [ ] after the surname of the person shown, it is the maiden or married name of that person.
Text in [ ] in any other place, this indicates a ‘comment’ inserted by the author and is not guaranteed correct (but hopefully it is!).
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the website is fully functioning, and that all information is correct, errors do occur. If you find any such issues please let us know and we will correct any problems.