Worcestershire Regiment
There appears to be little surviving documentary evidence with regard to Private Williams’ military service.
As far as can be ascertained, James Williams was born in Drybrook, in the Forest of Dean, in 1899. He was named after his father, a coal miner and his mother was called Annie. The 1901 Census return show the family (consisting of three daughters, plus James as the only son), living in the East Dean district.
Whilst no Army service or pension records appear to have survived for James, a Medal Rolls Index Record Card (MRIC) shows that he enlisted on 25 March 1915. This would have meant that he was about 16 years of age at that time, so possibly he lied about his age. The Silver War Badge records state that he did not see service abroad — so he was possibly part of the regimental band.
The MRIC also states that he was discharged from the Army on 19 June 1918 and this is confirmed on a recently released Pension Record Card (PRC). This also confirms that the reason for discharge was down to sickness, in the form of pulmonary tuberculosis., attributable to military service.
His address on the PRC is shown as Gossington, Slimbridge, a hamlet on the main Bristol to Gloucester road.
James Williams died on 6 February 1920, aged 18, presumably from tuberculosis. He was buried in the churchyard of St John the Evangelist, Slimbridge on 11 February. His grave was either unmarked at the time or its marker had disappeared, as it was not until one hundred years later that local research revealed him to be a casualty of the Great War and this fact was acknowledged by the CWGC and his name placed on the ‘Debt of Honour’ register. His grave is now marked with a CWGC headstone.
Researched by Graham Adams 25 July 2021 (revised July 2022)