L/Cpl 17253 David Richard Williams

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Saturday 8th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Abbeville Cc
  Panel Ref: V.B.8

David Richard Williams was born in Toxteth, Liverpool on the 04th February 1895, the son of John and Mary Ellen Williams (née Pugh) who were married in Toxteth in 1884. Sadly their first born, Sarah Elizabeth, died in infancy in 1886. 

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 55 Woodhouse Rd, Kirkdale.

His father, John, is a 38 year old ironmongers assistant born in Pensarn, Wales whilst his mother, Mary, is 33 and was born in Liverpool. They have two lodgers present as well as John’s sister Emily Hague. 

The 1901 Census shows the family have moved to 54 Dovey Street, Toxteth Park.

David  is five years of age and is living with his parents and four siblings. His father, John, is a 47 year old joiner/builder born in Holyhead whilst his mother, Mary, is 43 and was born in Liverpool. His siblings are listed as; Mary O. aged 14,  John P. 13,  Rachel A. 10 and Laura M. aged 8. All were born in Liverpool. 

On the 1911 Census the family are now living at 130 Rosslyn Street, Aigburth.

David is not present, his father, John, is a 57 year old joiner born in Llanfechell, Anglesey, mother Mary, aged 43(married 26 years, 6 children, 5 still alive), with children Laura Margaret an 18 year old student teacher, John aged 23 and a Shipping clerk. Also present is nephew William E. Hughes 23. David is recorded as a nephew, aged 15, a scholar born in Liverpool, and living with William and Jane Hughes in Brynleg, Llannerchymedd, Anglesey. 

David was educated at the Liverpool Collegiate in Shaw Street, Liverpool and Llangefni County School and subsequently took up employment with Law Integrity Insurance Company, Liverpool.

He enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on the 02nd September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17253. He is described as being 5' 5" tall, weighing 114lbs, 34” chest, with a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair.  His religion is stated as Nonconformist. He gave his father John as his next of kin, 130 Rosslyn St. 


From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

25.10.15: Appointed unpaid Lance-Corporal.

7.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion onboard the SS Invicta.

During the attack on the 1st July 1916 he received shrapnel wounds to his face, left hand, and his right leg and thigh. He was evacuated from the battlefield and admitted to 96 Field Ambulance. The following day he was moved to No 5 Casualty Clearing Station (Corbie) and on the 3rd July he was transferred to No 2 Stationary Hospital (Abbeville) where he died at 2:15pm on the 08th July from his wounds, aged 21.

The 18^th Battalion Diary gives an insight into the action in which David received his wounds. 

At 6.30am the artillery commenced an intensive bombardment of the enemy’s trenches. Zero Hour – 7.30 am – the battalion commenced to leave their trenches and the attack commenced. The attack was pressed with great spirit and determination in spite of heavy shelling and machine gun enfilade fire which caused casualties amounting to 2/3rds of the strength of the Battalion in action. The whole system of German trenches including the Glatz Redoubt was captured without any deviation from the scheduled programme. Consolidated positions and made strong points for defence against possible counter attacks.

Graham Maddocks provides more detail concerning the events of the day:

As the first three waves began to move forward towards the German reserve line, known as Alt Trench and then on to the Glatz Redoubt itself, they suddenly came under enfilading fire from the left. This was from a machine gun which the Germans had sited at a strong point in Alt Trench. The gun itself was protected by a party of snipers and bombers, who, hidden in a rough hedge, were dug into a position in Alt Trench, at its junction with a communication trench known as Alt Alley. These bombers and snipers were themselves protected by rifle fire from another communication trench, Train Alley which snaked back up the high ground and into Montauban itself. The machine gun fire was devastating and it is certain that nearly of the Battalion’s casualties that day were caused by that one gun.  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter  wrote in the conclusion of his account of the days action:

I cannot speak to highly of the gallantry of the Officers and men. The men amply repaid the care and kindness of their Company Officers, who have always tried to lead and not to drive. As laid down in my first lecture to the Battalion when formed, in the words of Prince Kraft:

“Men follow their Officers not from fear, but from love of the Regiment where everything had always and at all times gone well with them”.    

Joe Devereux in his book A Singular Day on the Somme gives the Casualty Breakdown for the 18^th Battalion as Killed in Action 7 Officers and 165 men and of those who died in consequence of the wounds 3 Officers and 19 men a total of 194 out of a total loss for the four Liverpool Pals Battalions of 257. 

David now rests at Abbeville Communal Cemetery, France. His headstone bears the epitaph:

"DUTY'S CALL FOUND HIM READY TO OBEY"

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. The extension was begun in September 1916. During the early part of the Second World War, Abbeville was a major operational aerodrome, but the town fell to the Germans at the end of May 1940. On 4 June, an attempt was made by the 51st Division, in conjunction with the French, to break the German bridgehead, but without success. Towards the end of 1943, eight large ski shaped buildings appeared near Abbeville. These proved to be storage units for flying bomb components an they were heavily bombed by Commonwealth air forces. Abbeville was retaken on 4 September 1944 by Canadian and Polish units. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. 

The shell that fatally wounded him also instantly killed his best friend Private Ernest Fairhurst Waring.

David's death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 17th July 1916

WELSH “PAL” GLAD TO DO HIS DUTY

Large numbers of the young men of the Liverpool Welsh Churches enlisted in the “Pals” and many are reported among the killed and wounded in the great push to France. Two of the brave young fellows who have lost their lives belonged to Park Road Welsh Congregational Church. Following the case of Private R. J. Roberts already announced, news has come to hand of the death of Private David Richard Williams (21) of the Liverpool “Pals” who was wounded in the thigh by a piece of shrapnel on July 1st and died in hospital a week afterwards. Writing to his parents (Mr and Mrs John Williams of 130 Rosslyn Street, Aigburth) the chaplain at the front spoke in high terms of the bravery shown by the young soldier through all his sufferings. Private Williams had declared that he was glad that he had gone out at the call of duty and the chaplain felt on leaving him that he was a lad of whom his parents would be proud. His body was laid to rest in the Military cemetery at Abbeville. He was one of the first to join the “Pals” and went to the front in November. He had a successful educational career in Anglesey where he won a scholarship in the Llangefni County School. He was employed by the Integrity Law Insurance Company when he enlisted. His Father is a deacon in Park Road, Welsh Congregational Church, Liverpool.

The Liverpool Echo also on 17th July 1916 
 
News has come to hand of the death of Private David Richard Williams (21), of the "Pals," who was wounded in the thigh and died a week afterwards. Writing to his parents (Mr. and Mrs. John Williams, of 30 Rosslyn-street, Aigburth), the chaplain at the front spoke in high terms of the bravery shown by the young soldier through all his sufferings. 
 

The Liverpool Evening Courier of 21st July 1916 

Private David Richard Williams (21), of the Liverpool Pals, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Williams, 130 Rosslyn-street, Aigburth, was wounded in the thigh by a piece of shrapnel in the great push in France, on July 1, and died a week afterwards. He was buried in the military cemetery at Abbeille. The chaplain wrote in high praise of his bravery. Before enlisting he was in the employ of the Law Integrity Insurance Co., Liverpool.  

His personal effects returned included 30 photos, 1 letter and 1 disc.

His medals were despatched to sister Olive,25 Coltart Rd, Princes Park, Liverpool. 

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £2 15s 4d, war gratuity £8 to his father John and pension to his mother Mary Ellen and John. 

As of May 1919 his siblings were; John Pugh Williams aged 30, Olive Mary aged 32, Laura Margaret aged 25 and Rachel Smith aged 28. 

David Richard Williams is commemorated on the following memorials:

St Michael-in-the-Hamlet, with St Andrew Parish Church, St Michael's Church Road, Toxteth, Liverpool,

Collegiate School, Shaw Street, Liverpool 

Llangefni County School

Y.M.C.A. located in 6 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool.

Liverpool Hall of Remembrance Panel 34.

His mother died aged 77 in 1935. 

Father remains on the Electoral Roll until 1935-36, no positive death record can be found. 

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