My family is fortunate not to have endured any casualties during either the First or the Second World War. After many years of attending the Cenotaph in London, I realised that I wanted to focus my remembrance on one particular service person, and see if anyone that shared my name was killed in the World Wars. In November 2005 I decided to undertake a search on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission website to see if a Clive Williams had died in war. It seems strange writing from my heart about a man I never knew, who had no connection with me, and who had already been dead for over fifty years by the time I was born in 1972. I fear disturbing his spirit, when he laid down his life to rest in eternal peace, yet I feel driven to research out more and more information about this stranger, to keep his memory alive. Private Clive Williams died of wounds on 20th November 1918, a little over a week after the Armistice, at No. 12 General Hospital. His death was reported in the Tamworth Herald on 7th December and again a week later. His body was buried at the St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France and his name is recorded on the War Memorial, Holy Trinity Church, Wilnecote, the Tamworth and District War Memorial and on the Pooley Hall Memorial
CIVILIAN LIFE
Born: 18/05/1894
Place: Langley, Worcestershire
Grandparents: Levi Williams, Married (1) Dinah Lewis, 10 June 1840 at St. Leonard’sClement (mother of Levi Arthur); (2) Jane Shaw, 1 September 1862 at StThomas’s, Dudley
Parents: Levi Arthur Williams, (1854 - 1909), Married (1) Emma J Godfrey,September Quarter 1874 at Rowley Regis. Onedaughter, Martha Jane; (2) Amplias Williams, (1856 - ?), September Quarter 1881at Sandwell
Siblings: Henrietta Amplias Swain Williams, (1882 - ?), Rowley Regis,Staffordshire; Married Dr Daniel McColl, September Quarter 1911, Tamworth
Arthur Swain Williams, (1892 - ?), Rowley Regis, Staffordshire
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Education: (Known: Did not attend Wilnecote High)
Career: Colliery Labourer, Pooley Hall Colliery (?-?)20/11/1919: "Make Firm O God The Peace For Which HeDied"
I have had much fantastic and friendly assistance over the years from Dr Carl Chinn, BlackCountry Bugle, and various people on sites such as Rowley Regis. I was told by a nameless person that they know someone who has Clive's medals. Who? What connection? Clearly someone knows something. All I really want is a photograph so I can see, connect more with, one of our brave dead.
CIVILIAN LIFE
Born: 18/05/1894
Place: Langley, Worcestershire
Grandparents: Levi Williams, Married (1) Dinah Lewis, 10 June 1840 at St. Leonard’sClement (mother of Levi Arthur); (2) Jane Shaw, 1 September 1862 at StThomas’s, Dudley
Parents: Levi Arthur Williams, (1854 - 1909), Married (1) Emma J Godfrey,September Quarter 1874 at Rowley Regis. Onedaughter, Martha Jane; (2) Amplias Williams, (1856 - ?), September Quarter 1881at Sandwell
Siblings: Henrietta Amplias Swain Williams, (1882 - ?), Rowley Regis,Staffordshire; Married Dr Daniel McColl, September Quarter 1911, Tamworth
Arthur Swain Williams, (1892 - ?), Rowley Regis, Staffordshire
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Education: (Known: Did not attend Wilnecote High)
Career: Colliery Labourer, Pooley Hall Colliery (?-?)
Colliery Labourer, Kingsbury Colliery Co. (? - ?/?/1916)
Addresses: (1894) Vicarage Road, Langley,Worcestershire
(1901 Census) ‘Myrtle Cottage’, Waterfall Lane, Rowley Regis, Warwickshire (nowStaffordshire)
(1911 Census) 4 Watling Street, Wilnecote, Tamworth, Staffordshire
(
1918) Amplias lived at ‘Holy Cottage’, Polesworth, Tamworth,Warwickshire (now Staffordshire)
MILITARY LIFE
Rank: Private
Number: 57334
Regiment: 1st/8th Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Enlisted: ?/?/1916, Tamworth, Warwickshire (now Staffordshire)
Died: 20/11/1918 (24), No. 12 General Hospital of wounds sustained in theBattle of the Sambre
Buried: S.III.W.5, St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France
Death reported: P.3, ‘Tamworth Herald’ 7/12/1918 & 14/12/1918
Addresses: (1894) Vicarage Road, Langley,Worcestershire
(1901 Census) ‘Myrtle Cottage’, Waterfall Lane, Rowley Regis, Warwickshire (nowStaffordshire)
(1911 Census) 4 Watling Street, Wilnecote, Tamworth, Staffordshire
(
1918) Amplias lived at ‘Holy Cottage’, Polesworth, Tamworth,Warwickshire (now Staffordshire)
MILITARY LIFE
Rank: Private
Number: 57334
Regiment: 1st/8th Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Enlisted: ?/?/1916, Tamworth, Warwickshire (now Staffordshire)
Died: 20/11/1918 (24), No. 12 General Hospital of wounds sustained in theBattle of the Sambre
Buried: S.III.W.5, St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France
Death reported: P.3, ‘Tamworth Herald’ 7/12/1918 & 14/12/1918
I have had much fantastic and friendly assistance over the years from Dr Carl Chinn, BlackCountry Bugle, and various people on sites such as Rowley Regis. I was told by a nameless person that they know someone who has Clive's medals. Who? What connection? Clearly someone knows something. All I really want is a photograph so I can see, connect more with, one of our brave dead.