Corporal 17753 Harry Williams

• Age: 24
• From: Shrewsbury, Salop
• Regiment: 12th KLR
• Died on Tuesday 2nd April 1918
• Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 21-23

Harry was born in Wellington, Shropshire in early May 1894 the son of George Williams and his wife Mary Jane (née Wagg). He was baptised Henry Williams on 20th June 1894 in Wrockwardine Wood, but was known as Harry. His parents had both been married previously, and widowed.  His father had at least two children, Hannah Louisa born in 1874, and James Alfred, born in 1880. His mother Mary Jane Wagg had married Joseph Lake in Wellington in 1883.  They had twins George and Martha Annie in 1883 but sadly both died in infancy. It is not known when her husband died, but Mary Jane remarried in 1886 to George Williams. His father was born in Wolverhampton and his mother in Wrockwardine, near Telford.  Harry had a younger sister Gertrude, born in 1896.

In 1901 the family is found in Trench Lane, Wrockwardine Wood.  His father is 51, an iron moulder’s labourer, his mother is 39, half brother Alfred is 20, an iron moulder apprentice, Henry is 6 and Gertrude 4.

His father appears to have died in 1903, aged 53, and his mother remarried to John Smith in 1908.

1911 Harry is living with his mother, sister, and stepfather at Gonsall(?) Cottage, Dorrington.  His stepfather is 35, a farmer’s waggoner, his mother is 48.  Harry is 16, working as a farmer’s boy, Gertrude is 14.

Harry enlisted in Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17753 on 03rd September 1914, giving his age as 20 years and 120 days, and his occupation as clerk (another page of his record shows trade: rivetter).  He is described as being 5’ 4” tall, weighing 114 lbs, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair.  He gives his religion as C of E, and as next of kin his mother Mrs. M.J. Smith, 1 Church Road, Lilleshall, Newport, Shropshire.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation 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. 

Harry did not ship to France with his battalion on 07th November 1915 but instead was posted to the 22nd (Reserve) Bn K.L.R. on 08/11/1915, reason unknown.

He was hospitalised with measles at Whiston Sanatorium from 19th March to 3rd April 1916.

He was posted to the 12th Bn and embarked for France on 16th May 1916, joined Infantry Base Depot on the 18th, and joined his battalion on 28th May. He was hospitalised in October 1916 with Dysentery and again in June 1917 when he had Tonsillitis.

On 09th January 1917 He was awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.1 for losing by neglect 1 pair of gum boots.

24th August 1917 appointed unpaid Lance Corporal
24th November 1917 appointed paid L/Cpl and appointed Acting Corporal

In March 1918 the battalion was near Berlancourt, 10 km south of Ham.  The German Spring Offensive, Operation Michael, began on 21st March.

The Battalion War Diary records heavy gunfire throughout the night and bombing by hostile aircraft. At 4:25 a.m. the battalion stood to, and alternated standing to and standing down throughout the day.  At 3:15 p.m. they marched to St. Simon (9 miles northwest) and took up positions at dusk on the left of the 61st Brigade, guarding the Tugny bridgehead.  That night they withdrew to the West Bank of the St. Quentin Canal, withdrawal complete at dawn, and bridges blown up.  At 8:45 a.m. on the 23rd they were ordered to move at once. On the 25th the Brigade was “bussed up” to Liancourt (about 40 miles north of Paris) and continued to retreat westwards to fill the widening gap between XVIII and XIX Corps.  From the 26th until the 31st, a series of rear guard actions were fought during the retirement, conforming with the line of the units on the flanks.  By the 31st the battalion was holding positions near Hangard.

On 1st April the battalion was in the line near Domiart and Hangard.  They were relieved on the night of 1st/2nd April and marched to Quevauvillers.

Casualties from 31st March to 2nd April:
Officers: 1 killed, 1 died of wounds, 11 wounded, 6 missing
O.R.: 15 killed, 142 wounded, 216 missing, 13 wounded & missing

Harry was declared Missing between 21st March - 2nd April 1918.

His mother made enquiries with the International Red Cross concerning Pte 17753 Harry Williams, Machine Gun Section, K.L.R. but received a reply on 1st June 1918, that they held no information on Harry. The response was the same to a further enquiry, on 11th September 1918.

She also wrote to Infantry Records on 6th December 1918:

“I am writing to ask if you have heard anything about A/Cpl 17753 H. Williams, 12th Liverpool Reg’t., missing since March.  Awaiting the pleasure of a reply, I remain your truly, M. J. Smith.” 

Their response is not included in his record.

Harry was later presumed killed in action on 02nd April 1918, aged 24. His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Pozieres Memorial in France. It is not known when his family were informed of his presumed death.

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 mother Mary Jane Smith received Harry’s Memorial Plaque and Scroll, and signed for his medals. She received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £21-10s.

In 1919 his mother provided information on Harry’s living relatives:  she was living at 7 Bank Cottage, his half-sister Hannah Louisa Jordan, 44, was living at 354 Camden Street, Brookfield’s, Birmingham; half brother James Alfred Williams, 37, lived at 333 Grange Road, Longford, near Coventry, and his sister Gertrude (now Palin), 23, lived at 11 Church Road, Lilleshall.

Harry is commemorated in St. Michael’s Church, Lilleshall and on the Shropshire Roll of Honour.

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