Sjt Frederick David Williams MM, L36646, D/189th Bde. RFA - Somme Award

[Ivor Anderson]

Sjt Frederick David Williams MM, L36646, D/189th Bde. RFA

MM in LG 6 Jan 1917. Award for the Somme with 189th Bde. - late August to mid Sept 1916:  https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29893/supplement/348

Died 1 May 1918 while serving with B/296 Bde. RFA, aged 38 https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/278210/frederick-david-williams/

His NoK was a sister Edith Rebecca Jowett.  She seems to have chosen his headstone inscription - 'He like a soldier died' - CWGC:

Edited 3 December , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

His sister Edith was living in Manchester in 1911, aged 37. She was born in Holloway, London (Islington district) on 2 July 1873. She had married in Manchester on 3 Aug 1896.

Ancestry also shows Frederick David Williams had his birth registered in Islington district in Q4 1879:

The family were living at 16 Rheiol Terrace, London in 1881, but I cannot trace them after that. He had an older brother William Stuart Williams, b. 10 May 1878.

His 'soldiers effects' listing shows other sisters got payouts after his death:

Edited 3 December , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

The 189th Bde WD does not mention MMs, but they suffered most casualties in late Sept 1916 - note D/189 guns/pits were badly hit on 27th Sept.

Most casualties were wounded, but 2 officers died in late Sept:

 

Edited 3 December , 2022 by Ivor Anderson
Additional Info

[David Porter]

It looks like he joined the 183rd (Hampstead) (Howitzer) Brigade RFA in very late July or very early August 1915. Most likely to have joined A (H)/183 as that battery became D (H)/189 in May 1916 and with whom he won his MM.

[Ivor Anderson]

Thanks David. I think his MM was as part of 41st Division for the 'Battle of the Transloy Ridges': https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/fartillery.php?pid=9782

I don't see him in the casualty lists as wounded in 1916?   When might he have moved to 296th Bde RFA?   MM inscription definitely 189th:

             

Edited 3 December , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[Ivor Anderson]

The sister Maud on his 'soldier's effects' might be Helena Maud Williams, b. 10 May 1881 in Islington district. Married Charles Backhouse 26 Dec 1902, Islington district.

This may be the baptisms of Frederick & 2 siblings (Ancestry):

Edited 3 December , 2022 by Ivor Anderson

[charlie962]

Ivor, 

Daily Casualty List  28/9/1917, Wounded.

His report is in a batch of Artillerymen who came from the US or further afield.

Courtesy the Genealogist.

Charlie

Edited 3 December , 2022 by charlie962

[Ivor Anderson]

Ah. Thanks Charlie! East Orange, New Jersey. That might be where the family disappeared to before 1891!

I could not find him in 1891, 1901 or 1911.

Edited 3 December , 2022 by Ivor Anderson