Benjamin Williams
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Benjamin Williams was born in Ranby, Notts in 1877. He had six siblings, John born 1868, Walter in 1870, Arthur 1873, Robert in 1875, James, in 1879 and Mary Ann born 1882. Their parents were William and Anne Williams and by 1891 the family were living at Ranby Road, Canal Side, Babworth, Notts where the family head was working as a farm labourer. On the 1st October 1900, Benjamin Williams married Emma Hirst at Ordsall, Retford and six months later were living at 5 Grafton Street, Worksop where Benjamin was making their living as a railway shunter. 10 years later he had changed his occupation and was working in the local colliery residing at 1 Clumber Place, Worksop. Before Benjamin enlisted, he had fathered seven children, Norman 16 Jan 1903 Retford, Ethel 16 Aug 1904, Agnes 7 Feb 1907, Abraham 30 Apr 1908, Dora 12 Jan 1911, Benjamin July 1912 and Edna 10 May 1915. He enlisted on 23 Aug 1915 at Doncaster joining the 4th Signal Coy Royal Engineers for the duration of War and was transferred to 231st Field Coy R,E. on the 14 Sept 1915. After the war and the death of Benjamin, his widow was awarded 46/3 per week for herself and seven children as from 7/10/1918.
Pioneer Ben Williams Worksop Guardian 12 April 1918 The recent severe fighting in France has added to the already long list of Worksop casualties, and we have this week to recall the death of a number of gallant men who have laid down their lives for their country. Amongst them Pioneer Benjamin Williams, R.A., who resided at 1, Clumber Place. The deceased leaves a widow and seven children, the eldest of who are only 15, to mourn his loss. He was 41 years of age. Previous to enlisting in 1915, he worked at Manton Colliery. He had seen much of the fighting in France, and was last at home at Christmas time, 1917. He was killed on March 22nd, and the circumstances are related by his officer, Sec,. Lieut. Newton in a letter to Mrs. Williams. He expresses his sympathy to her, and says all the boys’ wish him to tell her what a dear comrade they have lost. He was a favourite with all. His death was caused by a bomb from the enemy aeroplane, which dropped less than ten yards away from where he was standing, and his death was instantaneous. He was buried at one of the British Military Cemeteries and his comrades carried him to his last resting place. “ I was present at the funeral,” said Lieut. Newton, “and we put a cross on his grave to his memory. The day afterwards I took some flowers to his grave. Your husband was a man whom I greatly respected, he was always very willing and contentious, and whatever job he did he did it well no matter how small it was. I was very fond of him and am deeply grieved at his death. I was only twenty yards away myself when the bomb dropped, and am very lucky to be alive. The Chaplain who buried Pioneer Williams has also written giving account of the funeral, and rendering his deep sympathy with the widow and family. “May God be with you and help you in your great bereavement, and strengthen your hands for bringing up the children.
Buried Bienvillers Military Cemetery, France. Research by Colin Dannatt
