BORN – Oswestry
HOMEFRONT – Place / Occupation N/K / St Oswald’s Church
UNIT – 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
RANK – Lance Corporal 10761
THEATRE – Loos / Battle of Loos. 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 25 September 1915
DIED – KIA 25 September 1915. Aged 19.
BURIED – Menin Gate, Ypres (grave unknown). (CWGC)
Richard Henry Williams, whose familial name was Harry, was born in 1897 at Oswestry. He was the eldest of 6 brothers – HIM, Edward, John Wilfred, Hugh, Edwin, and the youngest Fred born in 1910, a seventh child died in infancy. His father, Edwin, was a domestic gardener; his mother was Mary. Richard’s childhood home was at West Street, Oswestry. By 1911 the family were living at 10 Coney Green and would later move to 30 Jennings Road. It is not known what Richard’s job was.
Richard was one of the first to enlist joining 5 Bn KSLI on 13 August 1914. He was aged 17, turning 18 in a few months time. He went over to France with the battalion, arriving on 21 May 1915 at Boulogne. He was 19 when he was killed at Railway Wood, Ypres. The battalion was involved in a diversionary action to draw enemy troops away from the main assault at the Battle of Loos. Richard has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres and on St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry war memorial.
Richard’s parents received the news of their son’s death in a letter written by Private 10763, Bertie Annum – the two had joined up together. Richard had also been the writer of a letter of condolences to the parents of Private 11487 George Douglas, – another signatory of that letter was, again, Private Annum.
KIA same day and action Private 11378 Valentine R Sperring and Lance Corporal 6944 William Salter.
Acknowledgements.
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