WILLIAM JOHN WILLIAMS 

WILLIAMS, William John Llangristiolus, Anglesey. Son of Mr. David Edward Williams and Mrs. Elizabeth Williams.

1891 Census

59 Argyle Street South, Birkenhead (St.Paul)(Tranmere), Cheshire (5 or more rooms)

David Williams, Head, Married, age 47, Grocer (Neither employer nor employed), born

Pentrefoelas, Denbighshire

Elizabeth Williams, Wife, Marr., a.35, b. (garbled version of )Llangristiolus, Anglesea

Ann Williams, daughter, a.1, b.Birkenhead, Cheshire

David Williams, Nephew, Single, a.20, Shipyard labourer, Employed, b.Blaen ?Pennal,

Cardiganshire

Eliza C. Hill, Servant, Sing., a.14, Domestic servant general, b. Carnarvon, Carnarvonshire

Robert Lloyd, Boarder, Sing., a.20, Locomotive fireman (annotation “R E D”), Employed,

b.(?Llan) Ysceifiog, Flintshire

 

1901 Census

73 Rodney Street, Birkenhead (St.Paul)(Tranmere), Cheshire (4 rooms)

David E. Williams, Head, Marr., a.54, Stone Mason (Worker), b. Denbigh, Denbighshire

Elizabeth Williams, Wife, Marr., a.45, b.Anglesey

Ann Williams, Daughter, Sing., a.11, b.Birkenhead, Cheshire

William J. Williams, Son, Sing., a.9, b.Birkenhead

(Note, the address seems to be shared with an Owens family (2 adults,1 child, in 2 rooms), father Michael a shipwright b.Bangor Caerns., mother Mary E. b. Amlwch, Anglesey).

 

1911 Census

3 Brookland Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire (7 rooms)

David Edward Williams, Head, age 64, Married, Retired Stonemason, born Denbighshire,

Yspytty Ifan.

Elizabeth Williams, Wife, a.55, Marr. (for 27 years [ca.1884], having borne 5 children, of

whom 2 still living), b.Anglesey, Llangristiolus.

Annie Williams, Daughter, a.21, Single, dressmaker (Worker), b.Birkenhead.

Louis ?Pergrum/?Pergrin, Boarder, a.36, Sing., Commercial traveller (Grocery trade)

(Worker), b.?Penally, S.Wales.

 

 

William John Williams described 1917 obituary as formerly Merchant Navy served on R.M.S. Franconia (Cunard Line)*

Enlisted Birkenhead ?1915, in 1 Cheshire Field Coy., R.E. (T.F.) as Sapper 1126. Next of kin resident Bodorgan, Anglesey.

Overseas (F/F) 4 November 1915. Later renumbered 446603 Spr. 438th (Cheshire) Field Coy., R.E.

Killed in action 30 September 1917, in enemy air raid at Ypres. Aged 26.

 

Y Clorianydd 24 October 1917 p.4 under Llangefni news states GALAR DWYS – Cydymdeimlir a Mr a Mrs David Williams, Cei Bach, yn eu galar o golli eu mab yn y rhyfel. Bachgen hardd ac o gymeriad rhagorol ydoedd.

 

Birkenhead News 27 October 1917 carries a photo of him and states he was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. D.E.Williams. He was killed in action on 30th September after being on active service for 2 years. He belonged to a well-known Birkenhead family, enlisted in the Cheshire Field Coy. R.E. in 1915, and went to the Front in November that year.

 

He previously led a seafaring life, sailing on some of the great liners, and travelling the greater part of the world in them. His last ship was the Franconia, of the Cunard Line. Spr. Williams was aged 26 and the only son of David E. Williams, who was employed for many years by the Docks and Harbour Board, but has now retired and lives in Anglesea (sic).

 

In a letter sent by a chum, he says they were returning from the trenches when an enemy air raid took place, and a bomb was dropped. Three of the company were killed and several wounded. Spr. Williams was very popular and much respected, and his loss will be keenly felt by all.

The deepest sympathy has been conveyed to his parents and also to his only sister, Mrs. Allsopp, who resides at 54 Dingle Road, Birkenhead.

 

1921 Census

54 Dingle Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire (4 rooms)

Charles Ernest Allsopp, Head, age 39 yrs. 2 months, Married, born Chirk, Salop.;

Electrotyper (Lead), for Lever Bros. Port Sunlight Soap Manufacturers,

Cheshire. Has 2 living children under 16 years of age.

Annie Allsopp, Wife, a.31 yrs. 7 mo., Marr., b.Birkenhead, Cheshire; Home duties, At home.

Charles W.G.Allsopp, Son, a.4 yrs. 8 mo., both parents alive, b. Birkenhead, Cheshire.

Eunice C.Allsopp, Daughter, a.8 mo., both parents alive, b.Birkenhead, Cheshire.

David E.Williams, Visitor, a.75 yrs. 2 mo., Marr., b.Yspyty Ifan, Denbighshire; Stonemason

(Retired) for Mersey Docks & Harbour Board, Liverpool. Nil children under

16 yrs. of age.

Elizabeth Williams, Visitor, a.66 yrs. 4 mo., Marr., b.Llangristiolus, Anglesey; Home duties.

Nil children under 16 yrs. of age.

 

 

 

Soldiers Effects Registers show 446603 Spr. Wm. John Williams 438th Field Coy. R.E. died in action, Belgium 30.9.1917. He was owed pay which, after some recalculations, seems to have amounted to £10.11s.10d., a money order being sent to his mother and sole legatee Elizabeth (Williams) on 12 Feb. 1918. She was also sent his War Gratuity of £10 on 13 Nov. 1919.

 

Existence of a legatee suggests he made a Will (not yet located)

 

He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal (1914-20) and Victory Medal (1914-19), as Sapper 1126 R.E.(Territorial)

 

 

CWGC 446603 Sapper William John Williams 438th (Cheshire) Field Coy., R.E., killed in enemy air raid 30 September 1917 aged 26, Buried Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, Plot 1 Row D Grave 87. Son of Elizabeth Williams of 54 Dingle Road, Birkenhead, and the late David Edward Williams of Llangristiolus, Anglesey. No epitaph on headstone, but the relevant form does bear his mother’s name and address as here.

 

 

Commemorated on the main Birkenhead War Memorial cenotaph, Hamilton Place, as W. John Williams.

 

Commemorated on the Llangristiolus panel of the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Bangor, as Williams, W.J.

 

Commemorated on the war memorial in Llangristiolus parish church as: Sapper WILLIAM JOHN WILLIAMS Cei Bach, 1 CHESre. R.E. YPRES 30 MEDI 1917, OED 26.

 

NOK: Cei Bach, Llangristiolus (Bodorgan), probably towards the end of his life; and 54 Dingle Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead (married sister 1915; and parents by 1921).

 

*R.M.S. Franconia (Cunard) Liner (18,150 grt) launched 23 July 1910, and operated on the North Atlantic route, Liverpool to and from Boston, Mass. She was also intended for the New York Mediterranean winter cruising service. Last voyage Liverpool to Boston arrived 22 Sept. 1914, and last to New York arrived 1 February 1915. Taken into service as a troop transport early in 1915, she was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean 195 miles east of Malta 4 October 1916, with 4 fatalities.


Researched and written by Clive Hughes