Name
Victor Wheldon Williams
30 April 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/07/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HAZEBROUCK COMMUNAL CEMETERY
III. G. 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
OH FOR THE TOUCH OF A VANISH'D HAND & THE SOUND OF A VOICE THAT IS STILL'D
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Evangelist Memorial, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, Berkhamsted School War Memorial
Pre War
Victor Wheldon-Williams was born on 30 April 1895 in Dulwich, London, the son and only child of William and Fanny Wheldon-Williams. When he was born his parents were living at 14 Maxted Road. East Dulwich, but moved soon after to Boxmoor.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Claremont, St John's Road, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead. His father was said to be 'living on his own means' (probably inherited wealth). He had been a medical student when he had married Victor's mother in 1894, but did not complete his studies or qualify as a medical practioner.
His mother filed a petition for divorce in 1907 on the grounds of physical cruelty, citing beatings and a threat to kill her, She moved out of the family home and returned to her parents in Bury St Edmunds. Victor had attended Berkhamsted School from 1904 and may not have been aware of the violence of his father.
On the 1911 Census he was registered as a boarder at Berkhamsted School and was a member of the Cadet Corps for five years. When he left school he returned to live with his father at Claremont in Boxmoor and was intending to go to Oxford University.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war Victor enlisted and applied for a Commission in the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment. His application was signed by his mother as he was under 21, and supported by his old Headmaster, C H Greene, who vouched for his character.
On 23 November 1914 he was appointed as 2nd Lieutenant with the 13th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and after initial training in Sussex on the South Downs, and Hove, he moved to Shoreham and completed his training at Pirbright in June 1915. Victor served in France from 23 October 1915, joining his unit after the Battle of Loos.
He was wounded by a gunshot to the chest at the beginning of April 1916 and evacuated to the 14th General Hospital for treatment. He was promoted to temporary Lieutenant whilst there and re-joined his unit eleven days after his injury, however he suffered gas poisoning on the night of 29/30 April 1916. The war diary notes that the night was very dark and that the enemy fired machine guns in order that the hissing of the gas leaving cylinders should not be heard. More than seventy men were affected by the German gas attack and Victor was taken back to the 14th General Hospital for treatment. Luckily he had not been seriously affected and was back with the Battalion at the end of May.
He was accidentally killed on 6 July 1916 while on a course at the army grenade school in Terdeghem, France. He was wounded during instruction and taken to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station but died of his wounds, aged 21. He is buried in the Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs F Wheldon-Williams, Corner Hall, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "OH FOR THE TOUCH OF A VANISH'D HAND & THE SOUND OF A VOICE THAT IS STILL'D". His father received his pay owing of £83 8s 9d. Probate was granted to father with effects of £101 8s 2d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com.
