Pte 37905 William Williams

William Williams was born in Garston, Liverpool, in 1880 and was baptised 5th September 1880 at St Michaels's Church, Garston. He was the son of William Williams and Elizabeth (née Griffiths) who had married in 1874 at St Michael's Church.  William was from Seacombe, Cheshire, and Elizabeth from Liverpool. H  They had at least six children; William had older siblings Eleanor, Edward, and Elizabeth, and younger siblings Margaret Edith and John, all born in Garston.

The 1881 Census shows the family living at 11, Leeming Street, Garston, Liverpool.

The father William aged 29, born 18523 is a boiler-maker and was born in Seacombe, Cheshire. His wife Elizabeth is aged 31, born 1850 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have three children at the time of the Census, Eleanor aged 6, born 1875 and Edward aged 4, born 1877 are both scholars, William is aged 1, born 1880. 

The 1891 Census shows the family still living at 11, Leeming Street, Garston, Liverpool.

The father William aged 39, is now employed as a flanger and his wife Elizabeth is aged 41 and has no occupation listed. They now have six children at the taking of the Census, Eleanor aged 16, has no occupation listed, Edward aged 14, is an errand boy, William  aged 10, Elizabeth aged 7 and Margaret aged 5 are all scholars and John was born in 1901.  

By 1901 his parents appear to have died and William is living at 31 Clifton Street, Garston, with married sister Eleanor and her husband.  William is 21, a labourer in a copper works. Also in the household are his siblings Edith 18, and John 9.  His brother Edward died in 1907 age 30, living at 12 S. Grove, Toxteth Park. 

He enlisted in Seaforth, Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 37905.

Formed in November 1914 the 20th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29th 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 7th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 20th October 1916 aged 35 during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges which was part of the ongoing Somme Offensive

William has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Misisng of the Somme, France.

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.”

Liverpool Echo 3rd Nov 1916

WILLIAMS - Killed in action, aged 35 years, Pte William Williams K.L.R., our dearly loved brother. 40 Russell Road, Garston.

He was  also reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post 29th Nov 1916

His effects went to his sister Eleanor Burke, including a War Gratuity of £3. A pension card cannot be found, possibly because William had no dependents. 

 

William is commemorated on the following Memorials;

St. Michael’s Church, Garston

Garston Roll of Honour.

 

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