I found John Frederick Williams when I was researching WW2 Servicemen in the local newspapers, he is not on any local memorial, so we must make sure his sacrifice is remembered.
John Frederick Williams was born on the 5th October 1921, according to the 1939 National Register, the third son of Gwilym Tegid & Jessie Williams (nee Unwin), who had married in a Civil Marriage or Registrar Attended marriage in the December quarter of 1917 in Chester. (Cheshire West ROC/66/110)
Gwilym Tegid Williams is seen on the 1901 census living with his parents Edward Richard & Mary Williams. Mary Williams (formerly Roberts, nee Williams) was the widow of John Roberts, and had had several children by him by the time of her marriage to Edward Richard. They were living at the Roodee Jam Works*, Chester, Cheshire at the time of the census. Head of the household was Edward R. Williams, 36, Caretaker, born Corwen, Merionethshire. Mary Williams, 43 had been born in Llanbedr, Merionethshire. Their first born son was Gwilym Tegid Williams, age 10 and born in Bala, Merioneshshire, Edward E. Williams, 8 had been born in Chester, Cheshire. Edith E. Roberts, Mary’s child from her first marriage was age 15, a Scholar and had been born in Rossett, Denbighshire.
*https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/ches/vol5/pt1/pp160-165
Excerpt from the above Website:-
“adopted the Free Libraries Acts well ahead of many towns of similar size and character. (fn. 38)
The Chester union became a regular poor-law union in 1869 and was enlarged by the addition of 43 rural townships in 1871. (fn. 39) The guardians built a new workhouse in Hoole Lane in 1877-8 to accommodate the larger numbers, (fn. 40) and the old workhouse on the Roodee then reverted to the corporation, which rented it for commercial use, latterly as a jam factory, before selling it in 1900. (fn. 41) The city was made into a single civil parish in 1885 so that poor rates could be equalized between the parishes and to save on the costs of collection. (fn. 42)”
Edward Richard Williams died on July 1906 (Cheshire West CAT/79/91), and was buried on the 13th July 1906, according to the UK, Burial and Cremation Index, 1576-2014, therefore it explains why his widow, Mary, and her mother Mary Williams, with Gwilym and his brother Edward Emrys, and half sister Edith Ellen Roberts, were living at 14, King Street, Chester, Cheshire on the 1911 census in the household of William Gillett, and Gwilym’s half-sister Mary Jane Gillett (nee Roberts) with their son William Edward Gillett. William Gillett, 42, was a Tailor & Draper, see the 1911 census below.
Jessie Unwin was baptised on the 13th February 1895, the daughter of Harry & Rosetta Unwin (nee Simpson) at St. Mary’s Church, Sheffield, she had been born on the 22nd January 1895 and on the 1901 census, she is seen living at 11, Alderson Place, Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield, Yorkshire with her parents Henry & Rosetta. Head of the family was Henry, 28 and a Beef Butcher, born Sheffield, Yorkshire. Rosetta, 26 had been born in Ockington, Derbyshire. Jessie, 6, and Henry, 2 had both been born in Sheffield, also on the census was Isaac, Henry’s(Harry) father, aged 67 and a Widower , he was a Brass Turner and born in Oulton, Yorkshire.
I believe that in 1901, the same year as the census, Rosetta died, (Ecclesall B. Vol. 9c Page 265*) then, in 1903 Henry also died, and I also believe that Jessie and young Harry went to live with Rosetta’s sister, Sarah Jane Wayte (nee Simpson) and her husband William Frederick Wayte, as on the 1911 census they are found living with them in Wales.
* The district Ecclesall B. is an alternative name for Ecclesall Bierlow and it spans the boundaries of the counties of Derbyshire and West Riding of Yorkshire
1911 census gives us a good look at the family now Henry had died, see https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/220648416/henry-unwin, which gives details, although I have no photograph :- Gravesite Details : – Age: 30, Occupation: Butcher, Last Residence: 47 Woodstock Road, 12 Oct 1903 is the interment date. The family are living at 4, Belle Vue Terrace, Saltney Road, Sandycroft, Nr. Chester. (Flintshire) (5 rooms). Head of the household is Frederick Wayte, 36, an Electric Accumulator Inspector and Manufacturer of Electrodes (Worker), born London, Middlesex. His wife, Sarah Jane, (Rosetta’s sister), 38, born in Eckington, Derbyshire, tells us that they had been married 5 years and 1 child had been born to them, Joyce*, age 3 and born in Stafford, Staffordshire. Also in the household was Jessie Unwin, 16 and Harry Unwin, 12, both born in Sheffield, Yorkshire.
*See Bapt. 1908 in Folder – did they change her name after baptism?
The next time we see Gwilym Tegid and Jessie Unwin is when they marry in 1917, see above.
They are seen on the 1921 census living at 23, Dundas Street, Queensferry, Flintshire. (GwilymTegid’s handwriting is beautiful). Head of the household was Gwilym Tegid Williams, age 29 years 9 months, Married, born Bala, Merionethshire, (Bilingual), Manager T.M. Dutton, Engineers. Place of work:- The Garage, Queensferry, Flintshire. Jessie Williams gives her age as 26 years 5 months, Married, and bornin Sheffield, Yorkshire, doing Home Duties. Their sons:- Edward Unwin, born Chester, Cheshire, age 3 years 2 months, and Gwilym, age 1 year 9 months, born Queensferry, Flintshire. Both Parents were alive.
The Britain, Trade Union Membership Registers, 1925, show a G. Williams, age 35, in the National Union Of Railwaymen, his occupation was an Examiner and his Union Branch was Mold Junction* & Saltney. (Archive reference – MSS.127/NU/OR/2/88). Was this “our” Gwilym Tegid?
*Mold Junction is by Saltney.
By the 1939 National Register was taken the family had grown and they were living at 76 Station Road , Queensferry, Hawarden R.D., Flintshire, Wales. This source gives us the dates of birth for each member of the family. Head of the household was Gwilym Tegid Williams, born 22nd September 1890 and he was a Baking Manager. Jessie Williams had been born on the 22nd January 1895 and as most married women who did not have a job, was described as doing “Unpaid Domestic Duties.” Edward U. Williams had been born on the 18th April 1918 and he was a “Surveyor, Engineer Bridge Building,” and single. Gwilym Williams had been born on the 28th September 1919 and was a Clerk Labourer at a Grocers Merchants, he was single. John F. Williams had been born on the 5th October 1921 and was an “Articled Pupil to Surveyor Engineers & Bridge Building,“ also single. The youngest member of the family was Christopher I. Williams, who had been born on the 18th April, 1926, the same birthday as Edward Unwin, his brother.
Sadly I do not have any details on John Frederick’s childhood or early teens, but as you can see he was only 18 when war was declared, but according to the newspaper cutting I found, he volunteered for Service and was anxious to serve in the Fleet Air Arm. Well he was able to achieve his dream and was able to get a Commission in the Service. Any information gratefully received.
Chester Chronicle 6th September 1941 Page 6 Col 2.
AIRMAN’S DEATH – Deep sympathy is felt with Mr. & Mrs. Gwilym WILLIAMS, Chester-road, Pentre, who on Wednesday received news that their son John, aged 19, who held a commission in the Fleet Air Arm, had been killed in the performance of his duties. He was a native of Queensferry, where his parents lived for some time. Some two years ago the family moved to Mold. His father is now in the service of the Finance Department of the County Council at Mold. John became articled to the County Surveyor and after serving three years became a junior surveyor in the department. He volunteered for service and was always anxious to serve in the Fleet Air Arm. After passing the examinations he was granted a commission. Mr. & Mrs. WILLIAMS have two other sons serving: Eddie, a corporal in the R.E’s, was also an articled pupil in the County Surveyor’s Department; the other son is serving in Iceland.
Liverpool Echo 17th September 1941 – “Midshipman John F. WILLIAMS, who’s parents lately came to reside at Pentre, Mold, from Queensferry, has met his death. He was an articled pupil in the County Surveyors Office at Mold and joined the Fleet Air Arm just 12 months ago.”
The website below gives a little of what John Frederick did in the Fleet Air Arm : –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNAS_Yeovilton_(HMS_Heron)
RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron), although 759 Squadron isn’t mentioned.
This was taken from :- https://www.fleetairarm.com/faa-roll-of-honour-detail/2426.aspx :- where John Frederick is remembered.
J F Williams
Decoration – Unknown
Rank -Temp Midshipman(A)
P/0/AGP
ServiceRNVR
Service Number Unknown
Squadron/Flight 759
Station/Ship HMS Heron
Date of Death 02 September 1941
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/759_Naval_Air_Squadron
759 Naval Air Squadron (759 NAS) was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. But it doesn’t give any information really.
John Frederick was in the Service a very short while, but gave his all, and should be remembered. He was buried in Mold, his death is recorded in Somerset (Bridgwater Vol. 5c Page 680) and the UK, World War II Index to Allied Airmen Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 gives us more information:-
Name: John Frederick Williams
Rank: Telegraphist Midshipman (Fleet Air Arm)
Death Age: 19
Birth Year: abt 1922
Death Date: 2 Sep 1941
Military Base: Yeovilton, Somerset
Unit: 759 Squadron
Command: Hms Heron
Ship: Sea Hurricane Ib
Occupation: Pilot
Casualty: Killed whilst flying
Residence Place: Mold, Flintshire
Burial Place: Mold Cemetery, Flintshire
Notes: Crashed Near North Petherton During A Sighting Exercise
He is also remembered on this website – http://www.aircrewremembered.com/RoyalNavyFleetAirArmDatabase/?q=williams&qand=&exc1=&exc2=&search_only=Name&search_type=exact#
Also see:-
https://www.asisbiz.com/RAF/RN-759NAS.html and https://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1941-09SEP.htm
Sadly I cannot find him on the Hawarden WW2 War Memorial nor on the Mold WW2 War Memorial.
His father Gwilym Tegid died in 1945 (Flintshire (Mold) MOLD/45/30), he was, with Jessie, alive to bear the grief of losing their son. Jessie was to die many years later, in the September quarter of 1977, she was buried on the 22nd August of that year (Wrexham/M Vol. 24 Page 916) and I wonder, looking at the Death Certificate reference, whether she died in Wrexham Maelor Hospital, but the Certificate would have to be purchased to confirm or deny.
We must remember the sacrifices of these young men who also had dreams and hopes for their own future, but gave it all up for us, but gave it thei all for us.
