BORN – Oswestry
HOMEFRONT – Place / Occupation N/K / St Oswald’s Church
UNIT – 12 Bn County of London Regiment (The Rangers), KRRC
RANK – Rifleman R/43050
THEATRE – 100 Days / Battle of Epehy. Villers Guislain. 12 Bn County of London Regiment. 21 September 1918
DIED – KIA 21 September 1918. Aged 19.
BURIED – Pigeon Ravine Cemetery, Epehy. (CWGC)
Richard Harold Williams was born in 1899 at Oswestry. He was the second of three children of William and Ellen Williams with 2 sisters Gertrude and Florence. His father worked for the Borough Council as a labourer. The family lived at 3 Porkington Cottages (119 Willow Street), Oswestry. He probably enlisted in 1917 when he turned 18 years. It seems he at first joined the Royal Flying Corps but ended up being posted to 12 Bn London Regiment.
Richard Harold was KIA on 21 September 1918 during the Battle for Epehy; on this day the battalion were in action to capture Kildare Avenue, an enemy trench at the head of Pigeon Ravine near to Villers Guislain, Epehy. He was buried in Pigeon Ravine Cemetery close to where he fell. He is also commemorated on the war memorial at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.
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