George Henry Williams
1901 - printer
1911 - horseman, Radford Colliery stables (Wollaton Colliery Company)
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
George Henry was the son of John Thomas and Sarah Williams (née Derbyshire).
His father John Thomas was born in Alvaston, Derbyshire, in 1859 (reg. Shardlow), the son of William and Alice Williams, and baptised in Alvaston on 4 September the same year. His mother Sarah was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
John and Sarah were married at Radford St Peter on 26 March 1883 and had three children, George Henry (b. 1884), Alice (b. abt. 1885) and Elizabeth (b. 1890), who were born in Radford.
John, a coachman, his wife and their three children, were living at 17 Hamburgh Road, Nottingham, in 1891. By 1901 they were living at 4 Lilac Street, St Ann’s: John was still employed as a coachman and his two older children were at work, George a printer and Alice a lace hand, while Elizabeth was school age.
John was a horsekeeper (surface) at Radford Colliery by 1911 when he and his wife were living at 6 Folly Cottages, New Road, Old Radford. Only their daughter Elizabeth (20), a tobacco weigher (tobacco factory) was still living at home.
Alice may have married in 1908 and George had married Emma Seymour (b. 1886, Nottingham) in 1907 (AMJ).
Emma Seymour was born in 1886 (reg. Nottingham), the daughter of Joseph Seymour (b. 1862) and his wife Matilda (née Elliott m. 1882 OND). Two siblings died young, Annie b. 1884 (JAS) d. 1889 (JFM) and Lily b. 1890 (JFM) d. 1890 (JAS). Joseph, a labourer, Matilda and Emma (4) were living at 4 Deakin Place, Radford in 1891. Joseph died later that year (OND) and his widow Matilda married John Redfern in 1891 (OND). John and Matilda had three children, John William b. 1892, Ann Elizabeth b. 1897 and Ada b. 1899 (JAS) d. 1899 (OND). Matilda died aged 35 in 1900 (JFM) and in 1901 her husband John, a bricklayer's labourer, their son John (7) and daughter Elizabeth (4) were living at Ravarino Terrace, 12 Brixton Road, Nottingham, boarders in the household of Joseph and Sophia Booker. His stepdaughter, Emma Seymour (15), a compresser/leather works, was a boarder at 41 Priory Street, Nottingham.
George and Emma Williams had two children, Lily b. 1908 (AMJ), who died the same year (JAS), and George Henry b. 1911 (OND). In 1911 George, a horseman at Radford Colliery Stables, and Emma were living at 5 Grove Lane, Radford. Also in the household was Emma's 'sister' [half-sister], Lizzie (Elizabeth) Redfern (13); it was noted on the Census that Lizzie was 'totally deaf from birth'. George and Emma's son, George, was born later that year.
Sarah Williams died at Radford Colliery Yard, Nottingham, aged 53, in 1913 and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
Her daughter Elizabeth married Clarence Henry Harvey Holt (bap. Nottingham Emmanuel Church, 1 July 1888), the son of Henry and Ellen Eliza Holt, in 1915 (reg. AMJ). Their son Bernard was born the following year. In 1921 Clarence, a packing case (wood) manufacturer (John Player, Imperial Tobacco), Elizabeth and their son were living with Elizabeth's widowed father, John, at Folley Cottages, New Road, Radford. John Wiliams was still employed by the Wollaton Colliery Company as a horsekeeper at Radford Colliery.
John Williams died at Radford Colliery Yard on 4 July 1933; he was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
His daughter Elizabeth and her husband Clarence, a consignment clerk, were living on Knighton Avenue, Nottingham, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled. Their son Bernard, who has not yet been traced on the 1939 Register, married Edna M Cox in 1940 (JFM Nottingham); their daughter Patricia R. was born in 1945. Elizabeth Holt died on 11 December 1955 and her husband Clarence on 25 May 1977.
A notice of George Williams' death which was published in a local newspaper in 1917 gave his widow Emma's address as 209 Birkin Avenue.
It is probable that Emma married William Leonard Alcock (b. 1896) in 1918 (AMJ Basford). In 1911 William Alcock (14) was living with his parents, William and Kate, and siblings Ada (18) and Emily (10), on Front Street, Arnold. He had served in the war with the Notts & Derby Regiment (4609 Private), and was discharged on 9 November 1917; home address Arnold.
William, a labourer (James Linday & Sons, soap manufacturers), and Emma were living in Keeks Yard, Arnold, in 1921. Also in the home was George H. Alcock-sic aged 9y 9m [b. 1911]; the census return was noted 'both parents alive'.
George Henry Williams (aka Alcock) has not yet been traced on official records after 1921 but he continued to be named on family 'In Memoriam' notices to his father until 1944.
William and Emma were recorded at 4 Academy Place, Arnold, in 1939. In the home were William's sister, Emily Alcock (b. 1901), a hosiery worker (button sewing), Ada (surname illeg., b. 1893), occupation unpaid domestic duties, who may also have been William's sister, and 'Thomas Frank' [Frank Thomas] b. Aug. 1900 single, a railway goods porter, whom Emily Alcock married in 1941 (JAS). The record of one other member of the household remains closed.
William Leonard Alcock died in January 1959 and his widow Emma in April 1959, both were buried in Redhill Cemetery, Arnold.
George Henry Williams enlisted at Nottingham.
He served with the 2/7th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 308173 (previously 16159) and was killed in action on 27 November 1917.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, Nord, France (Panel 6&7).
CWGC history of the Cambrai Memorial (extract): the memorial is at one end of Louverval Miilitary Cemetery and commemorates UK and South African servicemen who died in the Battle of Cambrai, November/December 1917 and who have no known grave. 'Sir Douglas Haig described the object of the Cambrai operations as the gaining of a 'local success by a sudden attack at a point where the enemy did not expect it' and to some extent they succeeded. The proposed method of assault was new, with no preliminary artillery bombardment. Instead, tanks would be used to break through the German wire, with the infantry following under the cover of smoke barrages. The attack began early in the morning of 20 November 1917 and initial advances were remarkable. However, by 22 November, a halt was called for rest and reorganisation, allowing the Germans to reinforce. From 23 to 28 November, the fighting was concentrated almost entirely around Bourlon Wood and by 29 November, it was clear that the Germans were ready for a major counter attack. During the fierce fighting of the next five days, much of the ground gained in the initial days of the attack was lost.' (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham General Cemetery. Family grave, headstone inscription: 'In loving memory of Sarah Williams died July 29th 1913 aged 53 years. John Thomas her beloved husband died July 4th 1933 aged 73. George Henry their beloved son who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, November 27th 1917 aged 33 years. Reunited' Kerb: 'Also their daughter Elizabeth Holt, wife of Clarence Henry, died December 11th 1955 aged 65'
See photographs: the headstone was originally upright, having been attached to the kerb which surrounds the grave.
George's brother-in-law, Clarence Holt, probably served in the war in the Labour Corps (276760, 373681).
WW1 Pension Ledgers: widow Emma Williams, son George Henry.
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his widow Emma was his legatee.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 31 July 1913 & 1 August 1913: ‘Williams. On the 29th inst., at Radford Colliery Yard, Sarah, the beloved wife of John Williams, aged 53 years, after a long and painful illness. Interment General Cemetery, top end, Saturday, 2.30.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 19 December 1917: 'Williams. Killed in action November 27th Private George Williamson, age 33, Duke of Wellington's, husband of Emma Williams, 209 Birkin Avenue. Wife and child.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post , 'In Memoriam', 27 November 1918: 'Williams. In loving memory of Pte. George Williams, killed in action November 27th, 1917, dearly loved only son of John Williams, Radford Colliery, and the late Sarah Williams. What would we give to clasp your hand and bid you welcome home. – From loving father, sisters Cissie [Alice] and Lizzie [Elizabeth Holt] and brothers-in-law [Clarence Henry Harvey Holt], and his dearly loved son George.'
Nottingham Evening Post , 'In Memoriam', 27 November 1918: 'Williams. Killed in action November 27th, 1917, Pte. G. Williams, Duke of Wellington. Never forgotten. From Mrs. Taylor and friends, Plough Inn, St. Peter's-street.'
Above courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘1914-1918’, 27 November 1928, 1929 & 1930: ‘Williams. In loving memory of my dear son and our dear brother, Pte. George Williams, killed November 27th, 1917. Ever in our thoughts. Loving father and family, and his loving son, George.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 6 July 1933: ‘Williams. On July 4th, at Radford Colliery Yard, John Thomas, our dear father, and beloved husband of the late Sarah Williams, passed peacefully away in his 74th year. For over 53 years the faithful servant of the Wollaton Collieries Company. Re-united. Sorrowing family. Will friends please accept this the only intimation. Interment 2pm, Saturday, General Cemetery, top end.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘1914-1918’, 27 November 1934 & 1936: ‘Williams. Treasured memories of our dear brother, George, killed, November 27th, 1917, son of the late John and Sarah Williams. Ever in our thoughts. Loving sisters, brothers-in-law, son George.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘1914-1918’, 27 November 1944: 'Williams. Loving memories of our dear brother, Pte. George Williams, killed Nov. 27th 1917. Ever in our thoughts. Loving sisters, brother-in-law [Clarence HH Holt], son George.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 12 December 1955: ‘Holt. Elizabeth (Betty), aged 65 years, passed peacefully away on December 11th at 22 Leacroft-road, beloved wife of Harry, loving mother of Bernard and Edna [wife, née Cox], dear sister of Cis [Alice], and darling grandma of Pat [Patricia R Holt]. Funeral arrangements later.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 13 December 1955: ‘Holt. Elizabeth (Betty), the beloved wife of Harry, passed peacefully away December 11th. Service Old Radford Church, 1.30, Thursday. Interment General Cemetery, 2pm. (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 26 May 1977: ‘Holt. Harry, of 22 Leacroft Road, Passed peacefully away in his 89th year. Dearly loved father of Bernard and Edna. Rest in Peace. Cremation Wilford Hill, Monday 30th May at 11.15am.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Photo of George Henry Williams
Cambria Memorial, France. (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of George Henry Williams
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (28 August 2026)
Photo of George Henry Williams
Nottingham General Cemetery. Family grave/headstone. Photograph Rachel Farrand (28 August 2026)