Name
William Edwin Williams
1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/04/1918
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
31484
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
33rd Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 11.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Shenley Memorial, War Memorial, Beds, Memorial Plaque, St Mary Magdalene, Westoning, Beds,
Pre War
William Edwin Williams was born in Shenley, Herts in 1889, the son of Sarah and William Williams and baptised on 16 June 1889 in Shenley. He was one of 8 children, although two died in infancy.
On the 1891 Census the family were living at High Canons Lodge, Shenley where his father was working as a butler domestic servant. By 1901 they had moved to Westoning, Bedfordshire, where they were living in Church Lane. His mother was then listed as the head of the household as his father was not with them. They remained in Bedfordshire in 1911 but had moved to Fitzroy Villas, Flitwick. His father was again was not with them, but his mother was listed as 'wife of butler working away'. William was then working as a baker's assistant.
He married Lucy Brown in 1912 in Ampthill, Beds and their child Stanley George was born in 1913. He was living in Ampthill at the time of enlistment.
Wartime Service
William initially enlisted into the Bedfordshire Regiment, later transferring to the 33rd Company of the Machine Gun Corps, which was formed in February 1918 and served as Corporal.
He was killed in action on 16 April 1918 when the enemy made a determined attack after heavy bombardment against positions south-east of Metern. He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £15 and pay owing of £15 17s 10d. She also received a pension of £1 1s 8d a week for herself and their child Stanley. Her address was given as Westoning. Ampthill, Beds.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
www.roll-of-honour.com,
