Three of the children of John and Martha Jane Bussey, Frederick, Elsie and William, played various roles during the First World War. The family lived at 147 Wolverhampton Street, Bilston in 1901, along with siblings Pattie Seward, Charles Hayward, and Emma Doris. In 1911, the family had moved to Wales, to Llandrillo yn Rhos, and Pattie, Elsie and Emma D. were still living with their parents.
Frederick was born in West Bromwich in 1880, and was. working as a grocers assistant in 1901. On 11 December 1915, he enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 23621), when his address was given as Belmont, Wellington Road, Bilston. His trade was grocer. He served in France, and later became a Lance Corporal in the 12th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers (number 66862). Finally he served with the Royal Defence Corps (number 72574). He was discharged on 23 March 1919 following a gun shot wound in the thigh. He died in Bilston in 1953.
Elsie was born in West Bromwich in 1882. From June 1917 onwards, Else served as a nurse with the British Red Cross, working part-time in the Soldier’s wards at the Wolverhampton general hospital. She married William Miller in Wolverhampton in 1920. She died 21 March 1951 at Belmont House, Wellington Road, Bilston, by which date her address was Woodcote, Mill Lane, Tettenhall Wood. The value of her effects was £5378 15s.
William Wallace was born in West Bromwich on 6 September 1884 and was working as a bank clerk in 1901. On 7 October 1914, William had a daughter, Marie, and he married her mother, Elsie May Branford on 27 November 1915 at the Wolverhampton Register Office. On 15 December 1915, he enlisted with the South Staffordshire Regiment (first service number 3325, later 203212). His address was given as Rutherglen, Wellington Road, Bilston, and his trade was grocer. He served in France and was wounded, before being discharged in February 1918. He was awarded the Silver War Badge (number 338590) on 20 February 1918. By 1939, he was living with his wife and daughter at 289 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton and was a managing clerk in the wholesale provisions trade. He died on 18 July 1947, when his address was 109 Moreton Road, Bushbury. The value of his effects was £2218 19s.