Name
Christopher Williamson
4 Nov 1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/05/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
201724
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
1st (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Tring memorials
Pre War
Christopher Williamson was born in Tring on 4 Nov 1896 (baptised 4 Jan 1897 in Tring) to Alfred George Williamson and Fanny (nee Camp).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, John (born 1893), Hilda (born 1894), Christopher and Frank (born 1898) were living at 224, Uxbridge Road, Hammersmith, London.
His mother Fanny died in 1901 and father Alfred died in 1902.
Not found on 1911 Census.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Christopher who enlisted as a Territorial Soldier in the 1st/1st (City of London) Battalion (Royal Fusiliers) about May 1915 as Private 4298 (renumbered as 201724 in the general renumbering of the Territorial Force) at Handel Street, Bloomsbury. This Battalion was part of 1st London Brigade, 1st London Division and had returned from Malta on 21 Feb 1915. On 11 Mar 1915 it was deployed to France, landing at Le Havre and joining 25 Brigade, 8th Division.
On 8 Feb 1916 it transferred to 167 Brigade, 56th (London) Division, a Territorial Unit. Christopher probably joined them in the field in around Autumn 1915. In 1916 the Division was engaged in the Battles of the Somme at Gommecourt (1 Jul, a diversionary attack), Ginchy (9 Sep), Flers-Courcelette (15-22 Sep), Morval (25-27 Sep)and le Transloy (1-18 Oct). In 1917 the division were moved to the Arras Sector and took part in the Battles of Arras at 1st Scarpe (9-14 Apr) and 3rd Scarpe (3-4 May). It was at this last action that Christopher was presumed to have been killed in action on 3 May 1917.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered in the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £8 10s was shared between his sister Hilda, brother Frank & sister-in-law Lizzie, his arrears of £4 3s 3d was also shared by the previous kin.
Brother of Hilda Williamson, of 16, Crossmead, Lynton, Devon.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
