Pte 23998 Robert Williams

• Age: 23
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Robert Williams was born in Liverpool in the September quarter of 1892 the only surviving son of Robert Williams and his wife Jane (née Hughes). His parents married in about 1874 and had ten children, but tragically seven had died young.  His surviving siblings found on earlier censuses are Mary, born in about 1875 in Carnarvonshire, and Sarah, born in Liverpool in about 1883.  His mother born in Cwm-Y-Glo, Carnarvonshire. 

Before Robert’s birth, the family is found on the 1891 Census living in court housing in Llanrwst Street in Toxteth Park. His father is a seaman. They have two children listed as living with them; Mary, 15 born Carnarvon and Sarah, 7 born Liverpool.  

Robert enlisted in Liverpool around December 1914 joining the 20^th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 23998. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

Robert was initially reported as Missing but then confirmed killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 23, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

His name appeared in the casualties published in the Liverpool Post & Mercury on 09th November 1916:

His death was presumed, for official purposes, as having occurred on or since 30th July 1916.

His family placed a memorial notice in the local press:

WILLIAMS - In sad but loving memory of Private ROBERT WILLIAMS (4th Liverpool Pals) reported missing July 30, since reported killed, aged 23 years, only son of Robert and Jane Williams 76 Pecksniff -street - Sadly missed by his Father, Mother, Sisters and Brothers-in-law James and Mary McMillan and Andy and Sarah Holloway.  

Robert's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

He was remembered on the second anniversary of his death:

"In sad but loving memory of Private Robert Williams (4th Liverpool Pals), reported missing July 30, since reported killed, aged 23 year, only son of Robert and Jane Williams, 76 Pecksniff Street. - Sadly missed by his Father, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers-in-law James and Mary McMillan, and Andy and Sarah Holloway." 

Robert earned his three medals.

His Army pay of £4 10s 7d and a War Gratuity of £7 went to his father. His mother, at 76 Pecksniff Street, was awarded a pension of 11/6d a week from July 1917.

His mother may have died, aged 67, in the March quarter of 1920. 

On the 1921 Census at 76 Pecksniff Steet his father, is widowed and has no family with him. He is no longer there in 1925, so probably died aged 72 in 1924. 

Sadly, Robert has not been identified on any local memorial.

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