Name
Ernest Edward Williamson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/10/1918
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
51857
Suffolk Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VIS-EN-ARTOIS MEMORIAL
Panel 4
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Royston Town War Memorial, Queen's Road Methodist Church Memorial, Royston
Pre War
Son of Mary Williamson and the late Edward Williamson; husband of Elizabeth Emma Williamson, of 53, Huntingdon Terrace, Mill Rd., Royston, Herts. They had at least two children, one of whom was Stanley Walter Williamson.
Wartime Service
He was posted to France on the 24th August 1915.
He was wounded in the left shoulder by a shell explosion and was evacuated to Bethnal Green Hospital to recover. Although he returned to France in July 1918, it is claimed that his arm was practically useless.
He was reported Missing in action on the 1st October 1918 when his Battalion were engaged in attacking he village of Rumilly. As the Battalion made their attack they came across stiff resistance from Germans located in Rumilly Trench and Rumilly Support Trench. As consequence, the Battalion lost the advantage of the British artillery barrage and were forced into a heavy fight with the German troops. Although the position was eventually won, the Battalion suffered a high level of casualties with 31 Killed, 97 Wounded and 50 Missing. One of those missing was Ernest Williamson. His body was never found, and his name is recorded on the Vis-En-Artois memorial.
Additional Information
Ernest is also commemorated on two family headstones in Royston Church Additional Burial Ground. The inscription are as follows:
On his parents' headstone:
ALSO OF PTE. ERNEST WILLIAMSON 6TH SON OF THE ABOVE (Edward & Mary Ann Williamson), WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE OCT. 1ST 1918. AGED 38 YEARS.
And on his widow and son's headstone:
ALSO OUR DEAR DAD ERNEST EDWARD WILLIAMSON KILLED IN FRANCE FIRST OCT. 1918 AGED 38 YEARS.
RE - UNITED
Acknowledgments
Paul Johnson
