1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
Alfred John Williams was born in Cheltenham in late 1899, one of seven children born to Alfred Samuel and Fanny Williams, of whom three had died by the time of the 1911 Census. At that time the family lived at 2 Swindon Terrace, Swindon Road, Cheltenham.
According to Leaving All that was Dear – Cheltenham and the Great War by Graham Sacker and Joe Devereux, John Williams enlisted as number 59661 in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars on the 6 July 1917 but was later transferred to the 1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in France and Flanders.
He was discharged on 11 November 1919 and died in Cheltenham General Hospital after a long illness due to the effects of gas poisoning on war service, on 21 February 1921, aged 21. His home address is shown as 2 Nelson Buildings, Wellington Passage, Cheltenham. There is photograph of him in The Graphic of 26 March 1921. On the Cheltenham (War) Memorial he is listed under the Gloucestershire Regiment.
There are a couple of observations to add to this entry. The CWGC headstone on his grave in Cheltenham Cemetery also states service in the Herefordshire Regiment. On his Medal Rolls Index Card there is only mention of service in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and the date of enlistment is shown as 6 September 1917 (rather than July).
Evidently he is also commemorated on the Cheltenham Parish Church Boys’ School Roll of Honour.
Researched by Graham Adams 17 February 2013