Private 16252 Richard Williams

Died Home on Sunday, 15th April 1917, age 19.
Buried in unidentified Grave in BN. 3. 24. at Coseley (Christ Church) New Churchyard, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.

2nd Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 6th Brigade of 2nd Division.
Formerly 16252 1st Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment.

Son of Mr Richard and Mrs Caroline Williams, 23 High Street, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Tipton, Resident: Tipton.

First landed France & Flanders, 24th March 1915.
Medal entitlement: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives survived and transcribed.

Commemorated on the St. John's Memorial.
Commemorated here because he appears on a Tipton memorial.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: Not commemorated by CWGC.

Genealogical Data

Birth of Richard Williams registered June quarter 1897 in Dudley.

1901 Census
158 High Street, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Richard Williams (26, Blast Furnace Labourer, born Tipton), his wife Caroline (25, born Tipton), and their 2 children: Richard (3, born Tipton) and Infant (2 weeks, born Princes End).

1911 Census
21 High Street, Princes End, Tipton, Staffs.
Richard Williams (37, Blast Furnaceman, born Tipton), his wife Caroline (36, born Tipton), and 8 of their 9 children: Richard (13, Labourer, born Tipton), Mary (11, School, born Tipton), Thomas (10, School, born Tipton), Caroline (7, School, born Tipton), William (5, School, born Tipton), Betsy (3, born Tipton), and twins Evelyn and Marian (1 month, born Tipton).

Personal Data

Richard Williams enlisted in the South Staffordshire Regiment on 1st December 1914 in Tipton. He said that his age was 19 years and 211 days; this overstated his age by 2 years as he was born in 1897. He was 5 feet 8 inches tall with a 37-inch chest, and employed as a Furnaceman. His next-of-kin was his father, Mr Richard Williams of 21 High Street, Princes End, Tipton. He was posted to the Depot battalion for just one day before being posted to the 3rd Battalion on 3rd December 1914 for his infantry training. His training was brief, as just 4 months later, on 15th April 1915, Richard landed in France where he was posted to the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment.

As Richard had been discharged from the army before his death, there was no outstanding pay and allowances at the time of his death. His War Gratuity was £9/0/0d (9 pounds exactly), this was paid to his father, Richard William Williams, in February 1920. Richard had enlisted on 1st December 1914.

Richard received a Pension immediately after his discharge from the army, this was 12/6d (12 shillings and 6 pence) per week, effective from 8th November 1916. Richard died just 5 months later, on 15th April 1917. His pension ceased and his mother, Mrs Caroline Williams, was awarded a Dependant's Pension, also 12/6d (12 shillings and 6 pence) per week, effective from 18th June 1917. Her address was initially 23 High Street, Princes End, but this later changed to 15 Lower High Street, Princes End.

Richard was buried on 21st April in the 'new' plot of Christ Church, in Block B, Row 3, Grave 24. A private gravestone existed in the 1980s when the inscription was recorded as "In memory of RICHARD the beloved son of RICHARD & CAROLINE WILLIAMS who died April 15th 1917 aged 19 years". Since that time, the gravestone presumably fell into disrepair and was removed as it no longer exists. No record exists for Richard on the CWGC on-line Debt of Honour, a case for his inclusion has been made to the CWGC.

Action resulting in his death

After landing in France on 15th April 1915, it is likely that Richard was involved in the Battle of Festubert (15-27 May 1917) when 64 men of the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment (1/SS) lost their lives.

In June 1915, 1/SS were in the Béthune area and on 16th June moved to trenches near Windy Corner, slightly west of Givenchy-lez-la-Bassée. They were to be in reserve for an attack to the east of Givenchy-lez-la-Bassée by the 7th Division. They were lucky to be in reserve as 19 officers and 364 Other Ranks from fellow units of the 7th Division were killed in the disastrous action. The War Diary entry for 19th June says "Relieved by Canadians at 8pm and proceeded to billets at La Casan (editor: 4½ miles north-west). Casualties: 1 Wounded." The man wounded was Richard Williams, he received a GSW (Gun Shot Wound) to the right arm which was severe enough for him to be returned to the UK for treatment.

It was 9 months before Richard was sufficiently recovered to return to France, and on 14th March 1916 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, South Staffs (2/SS). On 27th July 1916, 2/SS moved into the recently captured Delville Wood. The enemy were determined to retake the wood and 2/SS were subject to heavy bombardment with parts of the front line practically obliterated, but they held on. When they were relieved on 29th July, 6 Officers and 60 Other Ranks had been killed, and 200 men wounded. Tellingly the War Diary records: "Suffering from Shell Shock - 21 Other Ranks". On 1st August Richard was recorded as suffering from Shell Shock, almost certainly from his time in Delville Wood. This was a severe case as again Richard was to return to the UK for treatment.

Delville Wood had been the end of Richard's military career as he was discharged on 7th November 1916 as "no longer physically fit for War Service - sickness." Richard died on 15th April 1917 at home at 23 High Street, Princes End, Tipton. He was 19 years of age which was the legal minimum age for service abroad - he had landed in France exactly two years earlier, on 15th April 1915. His death certificate records the cause of death as "Tuberculosis of lung".

Newspaper Cuttings

None.