Sgt 23864 Thomas Charles Williams

• Age: 36
• From: Welshpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Thursday 20th January 1916
• Commemorated at: Chiplly Cc
  Panel Ref: C.8

Thomas Charles Williams was born in Welshpool, Wales in the March quarter of 1879, the son of James Williams from Bangor and Mary Ann (née Roberts), born in Welshpool, who married in about 1867 and had at least eight children, all born in Welshpool. Thomas had older siblings William Henry, Isabella Ann, John H., David, James, Mary Jane, and a younger sister Margaret Alice, all born in Welshpool. Thomas was baptised on 5th April 1880 in the parish church of Welshpool, his father’s occupation given as plasterer, and his parents’ residence as Pool Town.

His parents had lived in Raven Street, Welshpool, since at least 1871, his father employed as a plasterer.

At the time of the 1881 Census the family is living at 10 Raven Street, Welshpool, with seven children. His father, James, is a 42 year old house plasterer, his mother is 33. , Thomas is one year old.  His siblings are recorded as; William H. 13 unemployed plasterer, Isabella A. 11, John H. 9, David 7, James 5, Mary Jane 3.  

His father died in the March quarter of 1892.

The family had split up on subsequent census', probably upon the death of the father.

Thomas Charles married Annie Whalley at Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree on the 16th April 1904. Thomas’ occupation was given as platelayer,  he declared that he was the son of James Williams (deceased) a plasterer and Annie was the daughter of William Whalley, a gauger. Both decalred their age to be 23. 

They had three children, their first child, Henry Clifford, was born on 10^th January 1905 and  was baptised in Holy Trinity Church, Wavertree on 26^th February 1905, Thomas Raymond born on 19th December 1908. A third child, John Stanley, was born in 1910 but sadly died at five months old. 

The 1911 census finds them at 29 Goswell Street, off Picton Road, Wavertree.  Thomas, 31, is a hotel porter, Annie is 30, Henry is 6, and Thomas 2. They have a 22-year old boarder, also a hotel porter.

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool in November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 23864.

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 07^th November 1915.

He achieved a rapid rise up the ranks and by January 1916 had reached the rank of Sergeant. In early January 1916, the four Pals Battalions, as part of 30^th Division, were posted to positions on the southern edge of the Somme near Carnoy. In the words of Graham Maddocks “little did they know it was to be their home for the next 10 months”. 

On 20^th January 1916 Thomas died in the 98^th Field Ambulance of wounds received prior to this date. The War Diary of 20/KLR for 20th January 1916 says the Battalion was heavily shelled at about 12 noon which resulted in one casualty.

Thomas now rests in Grave C8 in Chipilly Communal Cemetery near Albert. 

The village of Chipilly was used by field ambulances in 1916. It was captured by the Germans in March 1918 and retaken in August, after a severe struggle, by the 58th (London) Division. CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY contains a Commonwealth plot, begun in August 1915 and used until March 1916. A further burial was added to Row A in April 1918. The communal cemetery now contains 55 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified. There are also four French war graves within the plot. CHIPILLY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION was made by Commonwealth troops between March 1916 and February 1917, then used again for three burials in the summer of 1918. The extension contains 31 First World War burials.

He is one of 59 men buried in the cemetery and these include 3 other Pals – Pte 24978 Meaker, 17^th Battalion, who died on 10^th February 1916; Private 22225 Edward Pyper, 20^th (Thomas’s) Battalion died 17^th February 1916; and 24990 Pte George Cheeseman, 17^th Battalion, died 30^th January 1916.       

Thomas was awarded three medals, including the 1915 Star.. 

His Army effects and a War Gratuity of £7-10 went to his widow Annie.  She was awarded a pension of 22/- a week for herself and two children, Henry Clifford and Thomas Raymond from August 1916, then living at 46 Bartlett Street, Wavertree.  The pension card also notes the name Mrs(?) W. Trist, guardian, relationship unknown. 

His sons both married and had families. In 1939 Henry was living in Birkenhead. He died in Wallasey in 1970.  Thomas lived in Bebington.  It is not known when Annie or son Thomas died. 

Thomas is commemorated in Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 33 Left.

He had been commemorated on the war memorial at Bethania Welsh Presbyterian Church, Crosby Road North, Waterloo, Liverpool. The church closed in 2015, the whereabouts of memorial is now unknown.

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