Christopher Richard Williams, was the second youngest of 7 children, he was born at Oswestry in 1889. The family lived at 30 Albert Road, Oswestry. His father, Richard, who was a railway porter, died in 1893.  His mother, Margaret continued to live on Albert Road until 1903 when she married Henry Wharton. By 1911 her second husband had also died (1906) and she was living at 7 Gatacre Road with Christopher, his brother William, sister Edith and her husband William Wilkinson. Christopher was a footballer and played as a forward for Oswestry United FC in the Lancashire Combination league.

He enlisted at Oswestry joining the 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, it is not known when. He was not awarded the 1915 Star so did not go over to France until 1916. In early 1916, too, he married Margaret Ellen Lloyd at Oswestry – it is probable that they married just prior to him leaving for the front. A number of drafts joined the battalion, the last on 20 July 1916, 3 days before Christopher fell. He was KIA on 23 July 1916 in the fighting for Delville Wood, Somme Offensive. The battalion was in the line at Waterlot Farm just to the south of the Wood.  It was a day of confused fighting that ultimately failed to capture the objectives. His body was lost and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial and has no known grave, He is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church

KIA same Day and Action

Private 22300 Robert B (Burns) Williams, 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. KIA 23 July 1916. Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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