Griffith Williams

He joined the army on 12nd November 1914 at Doncaster within a few weeks after the declaration of war. He gave his age as 32 years and 7 months and his next of kin as his mother Ann Williams of Newington, Bawtry. After the usual training he served with his battalion 8th Yorks and Lancaster Regiment in France where he underwent great hardships and heavy fighting. He was severely wounded in the left shoulder by shellfire during action on the marne on 4th July 1916. He was taken to number 14 General hospital behind the lines and only survived for 24 hours following his admission.He was 36 years of age and unmarried. His mother received many touching letters of sympathy from comrades of her son and others, in the one the writer says ' That he would not allow his mother to be informed that he was about to undergo an operation' . The matron of the hospital wrote :- Dear Mrs Williams I hope you received my letter telling you that your son has been severely wounded. I am very grieved to have to tell you that he passed away this evening at 6.30 he had been gradually getting worse all day and was quite unconscious for about an hour before he did, so that he suffered no pain at the last. He spoke of you several times and I told him I had written to you. He will be buried in the cemetery here (Wimereux) a village about three miles out of Boulogne and we will put flowers for you on his his grave. With much sympathy, I am yours sincerely M Cox (matron)

He is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery , France