Robert Stanley Williams was born on the 9th of June 1919 and baptised at St. Deniol’s Church, Hawarden, on the 29th of June the same year, he was the son of William & Mary Ethel Williams (nee Bouckley), Garden City, Electrical Labourer.   They married in St. Deiniol’s Church, Hawarden on the7th of December 1918 and according to the Parish Registers William Williams was 22,  a Bachelor and Electrical Labourer, home was in Garden City, Sealand, his father was William WILLIAMS (Deceased) & Mary Ethel Bouckley, 21, a Spinster, home was in Queensferry, her father wasArthur BOUCKLEY (Deceased).  (By Licence).  Their siblings, John Henry Bouckley & Edith Williams, I believe were their witnesses.

We see them on the 1921 census which was taken on the 19^th of June 1921, living at 8, River Dee Cottages, Queensferry, Chester.   They were living as Boarders with Richard Edwards, who was head of the household he was 68 years and 3 months old and born in Queensferry, Flintshire.   His son, Thos. John Edwards was 38 years and 4 months old, single born in Mold, Flintshire and worked at John Summers & Sons Ltd., Steelworks, Hawarden Bridge, Shotton.   William Williams was 25 years and 3 months old, born in Queensferry, married and an Electricians Labourer at the same works as Thomas John Edwards.   Ethel Williams was 23 years and 9 months old, born at Ettingshall, Bilston, Staffordshire.  Baby Robert Stanley Williams, age 2 years and born in Queensferry make up the household.

Robert Stanley was to have 2 sisters, Hilda, born in the March quarter of 1925 and baptised on the 15th of February 1925 at St. Andrews, but the entry was recorded in the St. Ethelwold’s Parish Registers and Mary Ethel, born in the June quarter of 1928, and baptised on the 1st of May 1928, the address on both was 8, River Dee Cottages, Queensferry, William being a Labourer.

I have no information on his early years, I would appreciate any information him so his story can be told.

Sadly, his father William died on the 28th of June 1939 age 43 according to his Gravestone: –

“In Loving Memory of William, the Beloved Husband of Mary Ethel WILLIAMS, died June 28th, 1939, aged 43 years.   “Loves greatest gift Remembrance,” also Flt/Sergeant R.S, WILLIAMS son of the above, killed in action 13th of August 1944, age 25 years”.

The National Register* was taken on the 29th of September 1939 and I find his mother Mary Ethel living at 8 Dee Cottages Welsh Road, Hawarden.   This source gives her date of birth as the 7th of September 1897, she is a widow and, as most married or widowed women who do not have a job, as doing “House Duties Unpaid.”    Hilda Williams’s date of birth was the 5th of January 1925, she was single and a Daily Maid, this source tells us she was to marry a gentleman named Shone.    Mary Ethel’s date of birth is given as the 7th of February 1928 and she is still at school, again, this source tells us that she was to marry a gentleman name Wainwright.   There are 2 redacted or closed records, I do not know who they are.

*I downloaded 2, both from Find my Past, but one didn’t have Robert Stanley on as there were 2 redacted records, but the other one had him and another person on, so just keep looking!   When he was conscripted or enlisted, I do not know, any help would be appreciated.

However, when I looked for the Operational Records* of 100 Squadron for August 1944 and downloaded them,  I found the fateful flight and 2 other previous flights that Robert Stanley took part in with some of the crew that was on the fateful mission to Brunswick on the 12/13th August 1944.

*Please get in touch with the website if you would like me to send them to you.

I found them on the National Archives website –

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8385087

Excerpt from the Operations Record Books: –

12/13th August 1944 Appendix.178 BRUNSWICK:  (Page 20 of the PDF) – Take off at 21.45. In this night raid crews were instructed to bomb blind on H25, and over the target area 10/10ths cloud was found with tops to 10/12000 ft, and good visibility above.    No observation of results was, of course possible, but the glow of considerable fires over a large area was seen from a great distance on the homeward journey.   The attack was scattered, but the target area received a considerable weight of bombs.     There was moderate heavy flak in the target area and one of our aircraft F/O EVANS, was slightly damaged.   On the homeward journey two of our aircraft engaged enemy aircraft with reply, but no claims were made.   One aircraft F/L PASTON-WILLIAMS and 2nd Pilot HOLLAND failed to return.    Detailed 7.    Primary 6   Missing 1.    Bombs dropped 5 tons H.E. and 16 tons incendiaries.

Lanc *111 “W” LM.658** F/L PASTON-WILLIAMS H. Captain

F/L HOLLAND. C.   2nd Pilot (115325 – Pilot – Christopher)

Sgt. DOWNIE J.A.   F/E

P/O HOOD G.       NAV.

P/O RAMSDEN B.   A/B (55792 – Air Bomber – Benjamin)

F/S WATTS L.R.   WO/AIR (1316752 – Wireless Operator – Lawrence Roy)

Sgt. WILLIAMS R.S.   MU/G (1502966 – Air Gunner – Robert Stanley)

CAN.J.26845  F/O DAVID  B.A.    R/G

*Lancaster Bomber

** This was typed as LM 568 on the Operational Records Book – a typo, which can be excused in those hectic awful days – bless them.

Details above in Brackets courtesy of RAF and Commonwealth Air Forces Roll of Honour – The Unaccounted Airmen Project: –

http://www.rafcommands.com/database/wardead/index.php?qname=&qnum=&qdate=1944%2F08%2F13&qunit=100&qappt=&qforce=&qregion=&qcntry=&qmem=&srname=&serialno=

Robert was on a raid on an Oil Refinery Storage Depot, PAUILLAC on the 4th August (Page 5 on the 100 Squadron PDF which I downloaded.) on Lanc. III “P”  LM.622 taking off at 13.30 and returning at 21.30 (Page 6 of the PDF)

F/L PASTON- WILLIAMS,  H.

Sgt. DOWNIE J.A

P/O GLADMAN L.H

F/S/ RAMSDEN B.,

F/S WATTS L.R.

Sgt. WLLIAMS, R.S.

CAN.J.26845            F/C DAVID  B.A.

Also, on the 5th of August more or less the same crew were flying again, a raid on the Oil Refinery Storage Depot, PAUILLAC, taking off at 14.25 and returning at 22.10 in Lanc III “R” ND.634. (Page 9 of the PDF)

CREW: –

F/L PASTON-WILLIAMS H. Captain

Sgt. DOWNIE J.A.   F/E

P/O HOOD G.       NAV.

P/O RAMSDEN B.   A/B

F/S WATTS L.R.   WO/AIR

Sgt. WILLIAMS R.S.   MU/G

CAN.J.26845 F/O DAVID  B.A.    R/G

No more before the fateful flight on the 12/13th August 1944. (Page 20 of the PDF)

I only found 4 of the crew of LM658 in the Commonwealth War Graves Database, so I began to wonder what had happened to the other 4 crew, as I have found that not every crash has all fatalities, some escape or are taken prisoner etc.,   so I emailed a request for help to the RAF Forums, below, and thanks to Simon from http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?25991-LM-568-100-Squadron-13th-August-1944-(Moved) who set me on this path with other links to other websites.

http://www.lancaster-lm658.co.uk/lancaster-lm658-crew-list/flight-sergeant-robert-stanley-williams/#.Xr_mDv9KiM8

Flight Sergeant 1502966 Robert Stanley Williams RAFVR (Age 25)

And: –

http://www.lancaster-lm658.co.uk/lancaster-lm658-crew-list/#.Xr_mdf9KiM8

Lancaster LM658 Crew List

Avro Lancaster LM 658 (HW-W)

Crew List and Summary of Established Personal Details

Age and status details as of 12/08/44

Thanks again to Simon – see above.

I clicked on the above lists and found out so much more that has added to Robert Stanley’s story, I have found out that he liked to be called Stan by friends and family, please read his story, it is so much in more detail that I could get in the short time I research each serviceman, so I am so grateful to Mr. A.J. Barrow, who researched the Crew of LM 658 and who found the grave of Gerald Hood, who was the Navigator on the fateful flight, and was injured in the crash, and escaped capture with help from the Resistance in the Netherlands, while walking in the woods, please click on the link below to read his story.   It makes you so proud of these young men who sacrificed so much for our freedom today.   Many thanks to Mr. A. J. Barrow for his dedication to finding out the truth of what happened.

http://www.lancaster-lm658.co.uk/the-hood-story/#.XsFMp_9KiM9

I have written to Mr. A.J. Barrow to see if he will allow me to put Stan’s (Robert Stanley) photograph on his page, which was given to Mr. Barrow by Stan’s niece, Pauline Ellis (nee Shone), when she allowed him to add Stan’s photo to his website on the Flight of LM658 and the obit of Stan.    However, I feel I cannot add the photograph to the page without Pauline Ellis’s permission as it was a very valued family photograph.

Stan’s fate – taken from:- http://www.lancaster-lm658.co.uk/lancaster-lm658-crew-list/flight-sergeant-robert-stanley-williams/#.XsJa1_9KiM8

“Possibly injured in the attack by the enemy night fighter or during his attempt to escape from the burning aircraft, Stan was rendered unconscious and though blown clear of the aircraft he never opened his parachute.”

Thanks to the wonderful research by Mr. A.J. Barrow, we now know what happened to the rest of the crew, many thanks to him for his dedication in finding out the fate of LM658 and more: –

Pilot

Flight Lieutenant 83930 Harold (Bill) Paston-Williams (RAFVR)

Bailed out & evaded (Hengelo) age 33.

Died 25/12/76 Truro Cornwall

SECOND PILOT

Flight Lieutenant 115325 Christopher Holland (RAFVR)*

Killed in crash (on “second dickie” or operational familiarisation trip) age 21

Please click on the link to read his story  http://www.lancaster-lm658.co.uk/lancaster-lm658-crew-list/flight-lieutenant-christopher-holland/#.XsKoO_9KiM8

REAR GUNNER

Flying Officer J/26845 Bruce Arnold David (RCAF)

Bailed out & captured, survived as P.O.W. (Stalag luft I, Barth) age 23.

Died c.1980

NAVIGATOR

Pilot Officer 178869 Gerald Hood (RAFVR)*

Bailed out age 22 and evaded until capture 03/45

Executed 21/03/45 near Almelo age 23.

*Please click on the link to read his story http://www.lancaster-lm658.co.uk/the-hood-story/#.XsJf2_9KiM8

BOMB AIMER

Pilot Officer 55792 Benjamin Ramsden (RAF)

Killed in crash age 31 (Headstone and CWGC states age incorrectly as 35)

WIRELESS OPERATOR

Flight Sergeant 1316752 Laurence Roy Watts (RAFVR)

Killed in crash age 23.

FLIGHT ENGINEER

Flight Sergeant 1367061 John A. Downie (RAFVR)

Bailed out & evaded (Hengelo) age 31.

Died – 2000 Kilmarnock Ayrshire

The only thing that might add to Stan’s story is the early information that I have added.

However, his mother, Mary Ethel, obviously was heartbroken as she had already suffered the loss of William, her husband, as was his sisters, Hilda, and Mary Ethel.

I believe that Hilda was to marry on the 16th of September 1944 to Edgar Shone, who was in the R.A.F. and Mary Ethel was to marry on the 30th July 1949 to Ellis Wainwright, both in St. Ethelwold’s Church, Shotton.

Stan’s mother, Mary Ethel, was to live to the wonderful age of 100 and died on the 29th of March 1998, so had carried her great loss of her only son, Stan, for 54 years.

The family made sure he would be remembered by adding his name to the Hawarden WW2 War Memorial for him to be remembered in perpetuity.

GOD’S GREATEST GIFT, REMEMBRANCE. YOUR LOVING MOTHER

Addendum

I found two newspaper cuttings that name Robert Stanley Williams as a witness to an accident, see below.

Addendum  4th June 2025

I received an email from Alan Barrow, who was instrumental in adding so much to Robert Stanley’s story – I have added the photos: –

Many thanks to Alan for completing Stan’s story.