Pte 22895 Robert Glyn Williams

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 1st July 1916
• Commemorated at: Serre Rd No 2 Cem, B-hamel
  Panel Ref: XVII.C.1

Robert Glyn Williams was born in Liverpool in January 1895, the son of Richard Williams his wife Jane, who were both born in Montgomeryshire, Wales. Richard was a grocer with his own business.

In 1901 Richard and Jane lived at 141 Queens Road, Everton with their six children – Mary J. aged 19, William H. 14, Richard L. 12, Margaret B. 9, Robert Glyn 6 and 1 year old David A. The family also had a general domestic servant, 21 year old Annie Edwards who had been born in Wales. All the children had been born in Liverpool.

The 1911 Census gives two addresses - 173 Breck Road and 141 Queens Road, the former address is the one Richard gave in the 1891 census so may have been a trading address as Breck Road was, and still is, a shopping street. Some of the older children are now working – Mary Jane aged 29 is at home, William Herbert aged 24 and Richard Llewellyn 22 are both working in the family grocery business, Margaret Blodwen, 19, is a dressmaker and Robert Glyn and David Aled are at school. The family have another domestic servant, 20 year old Sarah Richards who also had been born in Wales. It records that Richard and Jane had been married for 29 years and that Jane had borne 8 children, 6 of which had survived.

Robert Glyn was educated at the Liverpool Collegiate and subsequently took up a position as a clerk with Liverpool Timber Company who had premises on West Derby Road, Liverpool.

He enlisted in Liverpool on 09th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion as Private 22895. He gave his age as 19 years, his occupation as clerk and his next of kin as his father of 173 Breck Road. He was described as being 5' 7" tall, weight 120lbs, with a good physical condition. His religion is stated as Church of England.

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 20th 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 7^th November 1915.

Robert Glyn was killed in action on 01st July 1916 reportedly carrying a despatch when he was shot through the chest.

Events of the 1st July for the 20th Battalion:

Maricourt

Zero Hour 7.30am. After 65 minutes intensive bombardment the Battalion advanced to the attack of the German trenches. The Battalion advanced in four lines each of the two leading Companies on a frontage of 2 platoons – No’s 1 & 2 Companies (in that order from the right) leading. No.3 Company in the 3rd wave, No.4 Company in the 4th wave. There being a distance of about 100 yards between each line. The lines advanced through the enemy’s artillery fire as though on parade in quick time. The leading waves went on without a pause to Alt Trench and Casement Trench which were secured at (time not stated) am. The casualties up to this being small. Our barrage lifting Dublin Trench (the 1st Objective) was captured and consolidation immediately proceeded with. Captain Whiting with the 3rd wave entrenching about 150 yards in the rear. Captain Robinson was wounded and No.2 Company was commanded during the day by Lt C P Moore. Casualties up to now were killed 2 officers – 1 wounded and 49 other ranks casualties killed and wounded. At 11.50 am orders were received for the assault of the Briqueterie. The Battalion operation orders for this were issued from NW of Germans Wood. Our barrage lifted at 12,30 pm and No. 4 Company under Captain E C Orford assisted by a section of bombers under 2nd Lt Baker who went up Nord Alley and Chimney Trench to secure his left flank, who had got right forward under cover of the fire of our guns rushed it almost without opposition. On the far side a party of the enemy were found in deep dug-outs. They brough a machine gun into action and some close fighting ensued in which Lt Gooch and Lt Williams were wounded. Opposition was however speedily overcome and the garrison consisting of the H.Q. of a Regt, one Colonel and 4 other officers – 40 rank and file , 2 machine guns together with maps, orders, documents and material fell into our hands. Steps were immediately taken for consolidating the ground won, which however owing to the destruction wrought by our “heavies” was a matter of great difficulty, what had been trenches being almost unrecognisable as such and the earth so pulverised that cover could only be made by aid of sandbags. The garrison was heavily shelled through the afternoon and most of the night and casualties were many. Battalion H.Q. were at the junction of Glatz Alley and Casement Trench north west of Germans Wood and this together with Dublin Trench received considerable attention from enemy guns. Casualties during the day 2 officers killed (2nd Lts F Barnes and JC Laughlin) and 3 wounded (Captain H H Robinson, Lt S Gooch and 2nd Lt F J Williams). 75 other ranks killed and wounded.

A report on his death in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 17th July 1916 reads:

Private Robert Glyn Williams (21) of the Liverpool Pals 1st Battalion was acting as a dispatch rider in the great push on July 1st when he was shot through the heart and died in the spot. Communications from the front speak highly of the efficient way in which he performed his duties. He was buried in a part of the ground which he helped to gain. Educated at Queens Road School and the Liverpool College, Shaw Street , previous to joining the colours he was in the employment of the Liverpool Timber Company Limited the principals and staff of which firm purposely presentled the parents of the plucky young soldier with an enlarged coloured photograph of him as a mark of appreciation. Private Glyn Williams was a son of Mr and Mrs Richard Williams of 173 Breck Road. The father is overseer for the township of Everton and treasurer of the Everton Liberal Association, as well as a deacon of the Tabernacle Welsh Congregational Church, Belmont Road.

Glyn was buried close to where he fell. After the war when graves were being concentrated, he was identified by his name on his disc, his body was exhumed and he now rests at Serre Road No 2 Cemetery, Grave XVIII C 1.

In June 1916, the road out of Mailly-Maillet to Serre and Puisieux entered No Man's Land about 1,300 metres south-west of Serre. On 1 July 1916, the 31st and 4th Divisions attacked north and south of this road and although parties of the 31st Division reached Serre, the attack failed. The 3rd and 31st Divisions attacked once more on the 13 November, but again without success.

Early in 1917, the Germans fell back to the Hindenburg Line and on 25 February, Serre was occupied by the 22nd Manchesters. The village changed hands once more in March 1918 and remained under German occupation, until they withdrew in August.

In the spring of 1917, the battlefields of the Somme and Ancre were cleared by V Corps and a number of new cemeteries were made, three of which are now named from the Serre Road. Serre Road Cemetery No.2 was begun in May 1917 and by the end of the war it contained approximately 475 graves (Plots I and II, except for Row E, Plot II which was added in 1922 and Row AA, Plot I which was added in 1927), but it was greatly enlarged after the Armistice by the addition of further graves from the surrounding area.

There are now 7,127 Commonwealth burials of the First World War in the cemetery, mostly dating from 1916. Of these, 4,944 are unidentified.

The cemetery, which was not completed until 1934, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers effects to his father and Pension to dependent Richard.

Hs is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Collegiate School, Shaw Street, Liverpool.

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 33 Right

His elder brother, Richard Llewellyn Williams, served with the RAMC (London Sanitary Company) enlisting at Liverpool on 21st March 1916 aged 27 years 7 months, and gave his occupation as commercial traveller and his home address as 141 Queens Road. He attained the rank of Acting Sergeant number 123103 having been mobilised on 30th July 1917. He was admitted to 316 Field Ambulance, Colchester on 30th October 1918 suffering from influenza which developed into bronchial pneumonia. He died in hospital on 08th November 1918 and now rests at Anfield Cemetery in grave II.U.75.

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