Williams, William

Name of Researcher / Enw’r ymchwylydd: Geoffrey Alexander Mitchell
Name of Memorial / Enw’r gofeb: Holywell War Memorial
Regiment/Catrawd: 16th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Service Rank and Number / Rheng gwasanaeth a rhif: Private No. 14645
Military Cemetery/Memorial / Fynwent milwrol: Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension
Ref No Grave or Memorial / Rhif cyfeirnod bedd: Plot: 111. Row: C. Grave: 8
Country of Cemetery or Memorial / Gwlad y fynwent neu gofeb: Somme, France
Medals Awarded / Medalau a ddyfarnwyd: British War Medal and Victory Medal
Date of Death / Dyddiad Marwolaeth: 17 May 1918
Circumstances of Death / Dyddiad ac amgylchiadau marwolaeth:
Killed in Action on 17 May 1918 during the battle of Awely Wood, aged 25 years.
Commonwealth War Grave Certificate / Tystysgrif Bedd Rhyfel y GymanwladView certificate

William Williams was born in Holywell, Flintshire during 1893.

The 1911 Census states that the family resided at 1 St. Winifred’s Terrace, New Road, Holywell. The head of the family was Thomas Williams aged 49, a Colliery Hewer. His wife Rebecca Williams aged 46 and their three sons, Thomas Williams aged 23, a Labourer, Mesech Williams aged 20, a Shop Assistant and William Williams aged 18, a General Labourer. Mesech, William’s elder brother was killed during the First World War and his name also appears on the Holywell War Memorial.

There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour card for William Williams at the County Archives Office, Hawarden. Details of his medals were obtained from www.forces-war-records.co.uk.

He is also remembered on the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.

Plaque on St James's Parish Church Wall Holywell
Photograph taken on Sunday 9 April 2017 by Geoffrey Mitchell who placed a British Legion Wooden Remembrance Cross on William's grave on behalf of Flintshire War Memorials.
Bouzincourt Communal Cemetery Extension was begun in May 1916 and used until February 1917. In the early part of July 1916, it was used not only for burials from the field ambulances but also for the interment of many soldiers killed in action and brought back from the line. The extension was reopened from the end of March 1918 until September 1918 and used largely by the 38th (Welsh) Division.

Williams, William

Learn more about the other soldiers on the Holywell Memorial