Name
George Williams
Circa 1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/04/1916
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14121
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY
L. 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Books), Hitchin
Pre War
George was born around 1895 in Melbourne, Australia, probably. His parents were James and Alice Williams.
So far the family have only been found in the 1901 census, when they were living at 16 Barnard’s Yard, Hitchin. Present were both parents: James (32) and Alice (31), with James working as a general labourer. Their children were: James (12), Sarah (10), George (6), Alice (4) and Bertie at six months.
A little more information can be gleaned from their birth locations: James (senior), Alice and James (junior) and Bertie were all born in Hitchin, Sarah, George born in Melbourne, Australia and Alice in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, then Bertie in Hitchin. This suggests that the were in Australia between 1889 and 1897 and were certainly in Hitchin in1900.
Officially George was recorded as born in Melbourne, Australia and was living in Hitchin and enlisted there.
Wartime Service
It was reported that George was allocated Regimental Number 14121 and posted to the 7th Battalion of the Bedfords. He was killed in action in France. At 8.30pm on the evening of his death he was sent out on patrol "a dangerous duty". He was hit in the stomach and back and there was no hope that he would survive.
The Battalion was near Bray and had spent several months preparing for the Battle of the Somme which was to commence on the 1st July 1916. During this period the Battalion made occasional raids on the enemy trenches which resulted in casualties on both sides.
However, one record suggests that he was Private 579430, in the Labour Corps. If that is correct then he was almost certainly with them when he was killed. Although his details are recorded against 14121 and the 7th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, but that is usual for me transferred to the Labour Corps through injury or illness.
He was buried in Row L Grave 10 in the Carnoy Military Cemetery east south east of Albert in France.
Additional Information
After his death £8 12s 0d pay owing was authorised to go to his father, James, on 29 July 1916. Later, a war gratuity of £7 was authorised to be paid to him on 9 September 1919.
His pension cards record James Charles Williams as his father and as his next of kin, living at 10 St Andrews Place, Hitchin. No pension details appear.
It was also reported that he had an older brother in Rawalpindi in India with the Royal Garrison Artillery.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
