Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Cpl 22896 Richard Albert Williams (DCM)

Age: 21
From: Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Friday 22nd March 1918
Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
Panel Ref: P21-23

Richard Albert Williams was born on 05th April 1897 in Liverpool, the son of Richard John Williams and his wife Emma (née Rourke). He was baptised on 09th May 1897 at St Peter's Church in Liverpool, the family were then living at Sedan Street, Liverpool and his father was employed as a warehouseman. His father, from Tranmere, and his mother, born in Liverpool, married in 1896 in Toxteth Park, Liverpool. Albert was the eldest of eight children. He had siblings Elizabeth Emma, William Henry, Thomas Charles, Reginald, John Frederick, Sarah May, and Dorothy.

At the time of the 1901 census, his parents were living at 2 Toxteth Grove, Toxteth Park with three children. His father is a warehouseman, Albert is 4.

The family lived at 70 Tavistock Street when his brother Reginald died at twelve months old in 1906.

In 1911 they are found at 72 Hurry Street (a small street off Cockburn Street, Dingle, which no longer exists). His father, 36, is a general labourer (Tramways cleaner) for Liverpool Corporation, his mother is 34. Richard Albert, 13, Elizabeth, 12, William, 10, and Thomas, 8, are at school, John is 3 and May 11 months. Another daughter, Dorothy, was born in 1913.

Prior to the war he was employed by Liverpool Corporation Tramways at the Smithdown Road, Depot.

Richard enlisted in Liverpool on 09th November 1914, as Private 22896, 20th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 19 years and 95 days (he was in fact 17 years old), and his occupation as a clerk. He is described as being 5’ 7” tall, weighing 129 lbs, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair. He gives his next of kin as father Richard John Williams, 19 Amity Street.

After training at Knowsley, near Liverpool, the Pals battalions left for further infantry training at Belton Park in Lincolnshire at the end of April. However, Albert was posted instead to the 22nd (Reserve) Battalion K.L.R., perhaps because his real age had come to light and he was too young to serve overseas.

22/4/1916 appointed unpaid L/Cpl

Whilst at Formby on 14th May 1916 he was admonished and forfeited two days’ pay for being absent overnight.

On 16th May 1916 he was posted to the 12th Bn K.L.R. and arrived in France on 17th May 1916 (when he had turned 19). The battalion saw action at Mount Sorrel in June 1916, and were in action on the Somme at Delville Wood and at Guillemont.

He reverted to Private at his own request on 08/8/1916.

He was wounded in the left arm on 4th September 1916 and evacuated to England on 06th September. Whilst in the U.K. he was posted to the 3rd (Garrison) Bn K.L.R.

He returned to France on 02nd January 1917, was transferred to the 19th Bn K.L.R. on the 05th and joined his unit in the field on the 07th. At this time the Pals, as part of the 30th Division, moved to Halloy for a month’s rest and training.

On 24/01/1917 was confined to barracks for six days for being absent from afternoon parade.

03/4/1917 appointed unpaid Lance Corporal and appointed paid L/Cpl on 09/8/1917.

From 13th to 27th August 1917 at Second Army Rest Camp

30/12/1917 to IX Corps school until 05/01/1918

10/01/1918 promoted Corporal

16th January 1918 granted leave to the U.K. and rejoined from leave on 01st February 1918.

Albert was serving in the 19^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Corporal No 22896 when he was killed in action on the 22nd March 1918, aged 21, during the German Spring Offensive. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.

The Battalion diary gives an insight into the events of the day:

22^nd GERMAINE – HAM- MOYENCOURT

The battalion moved up accordingly being in position at 6:30 a.m. About 3pm the enemy attacked the left of our position and advanced on our left flank towards FLUQUIERES. At 4:30 pm an attack was launched on our front and the enemy forced his way through on our right. The remainder of the Battalion was forced to retire to south of FLUQUIERES. During this engagement the Battalion lost 11 Officers and About 21 O.R. The order was given to retire to the defences at HAM. The Battalion by this time was very weak, and passing through the 20^th Division took up positions in HAM, as ordered, getting into position at 2am.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal which was posthumously reported in the London Gazette on 03rd June 1918

AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL.

22896 Cpl. R. A. Williams, L'pool R. (Liverpool)

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 11/07/1918;

"Cpl. R.A.Williams was killed in action on March 22nd. His parents, who reside at 19,Amity-street, Toxteth Park, have been informed that he was awarded the D.C.M. Before joining the Liverpool Pas he was employed by the Liverpool Corporation Tramways at Smithdown-road depot".

His citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal (D.C.M.) reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. On one occasion, when the battalion was moving into the line, a heavy bombardment suddenly opened, falling on two platoons of his company. The platoon officers and many men became casualties, and this non-commissioned officer took command, and with great coolness under the heavy fire organised the survivors and moved them into cover. His prompt action saved many casualties. He has always set a fine example to his men.

His age, provided by the family, on the CWGC record is given as 21, but based on his birthdate, he was still 20 years old (i.e., in his 21st year).

Albert has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

His service record shows, “Awarded Military Medal, London Gazette 06/8/1918”. Memos in his record point out the error, and note the award of the D.C.M. was Gazetted on 21/10/1918.

His mother Emma received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £16-10s. The Soldiers’ Effects entry also shows a gratuity of £20 for the D.C.M. His mother, address 19 Amity Street, Dingle, was awarded a pension of 7/6d a week from October 1918.

In 1919 his three brothers and three sisters are living at home with his parents at 19 Amity Street.

In early 1920 his parents enquired with the Imperial War Graves Commission concerning the location of their son’s grave. Infantry Records in Preston were asked to search their records, but apparently no information was found.

In 1939 his parents are living at 38 Anstey Road, Toxteth, with his brother John, 32, his married sister Sarah May, 29, and sister Dorothy, 26. His father is 65, retired, and his mother is 63.

His father died in 1951 aged 77; his mother lived to the age of 86, and died in 1962.

Sadly, Albert’s name has not been found on any memorial.

The Liverpool Corporation Tramways War Memorial stands on the East Lancs Road at Gillmoss. Unfortunately, it does not list names, but reads, “Erected to the memory of the men of the Liverpool Corporation Tramways Department who fell in the Great War of 1914-1918 and the War of 1939-1945”

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

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