Pte 203179 Norman Williams

• Age: 26
• From: Bootle, Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 22nd September 1917
• Commemorated at: Torreken Farm
  Panel Ref: B.16

Norman Williams was born 1891 at Liverpool and was the son of Hugh and Annie Williams. He is shown as a new born baby in the 1891 Census at 60 Leopold Road, Liverpool where his mother Annie is shown as married and the head of the household.   

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 60 Leopold Road, Liverpool. His father Hugh is the head of the household. He is a ships steward, born in Liverpool in 1851 which may explain his absence from the 1891 Census. His mother Annie is shown as being born at Huddersfield in 1856. Norman shown as born in 1891 is aged 10 and is the youngest of five children all born in Liverpool. Annie b.1885, Hugh b. 1886, Gertrude b.1887 and Herbert b.1889.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 55 Ennismore Road, Liverpool.  His mother Annie is aged 55, born 1856 in Huddersfield with no occupation shown. She is living with four of her children Annie aged 26, born 1885 and Gertrude aged 25, born 1886 are both waitresses, Herbert aged 22, born 1889 is a meat checker and Ronald aged 8, born 1903 at school. They also have Annie’s sister Jane Jackson a widow aged 65, born 1846 retired and born in Huddersfield. Norman does not appear on the Census for 1911.

He enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 203179 when he was killed in action on the 22nd September, 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. He was 26 years of age.

18^th Battalion War Diary for 22nd September 1917

Enemy shelled intermittently.  Found working parties to Front Line, Wiring and Digging.

Casualties. Killed

17076 Sergt D Malcolm

203094 Pte G Fearon

57694 Pte B Brearley

202830 Pte J Conway

57784 Pte W Elliott

203179 Pte N. Williams

He now rests at Torreken Farm Cemetery No1, Whytschaete, Belgium.

Wytschaete (now Wijtschate) was taken by the Germans early in November 1914. It was recovered by Commonwealth forces during the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917, but fell into German hands once more on 16 April 1918. The village was recovered for the last time on 28 September.

Torreken Farm Cemetery (there is now only one) was begun by the 5th Dorset Regiment in June 1917 and used as a front line cemetery until April 1918.

The cemetery contains 90 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 14 German war graves.

The cemetery was designed by W C Von Berg.

We currently have no further information on Norman Williams, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.