E WILLIAMS

Rifleman, 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment
Service Number: 1563
Born: 1895, Troedrhiwfuwch, Glamorgan, Wales
Killed in Action: 21 April 1915 (aged 20)
Commemoration: Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium, Panel 50

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Edward Williams was born in 1895 in Troedrhiwfuwch, South Wales, to George and Jane Williams. He had one younger brother, Algina, who also served in the First World War.

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By 1901, Edward was six years old. Following the death of their mother, the brothers lived with their father at 7 Lawrence Terrace and attended Troedrhiwfuwch School, while their father worked as a Coal Miner (Hewer).

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In 1911, the family had moved to 54 High Street, where Edward, then 16, worked alongside his father as a Coal Miner. They were living with extended family—William, Emily, and Glynis. Algina, aged 14, worked as a Coal Miner Boy.

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Edward enlisted with the 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment and served as Rifleman 1563. He was killed in action on 21 April 1915, aged 20. His sacrifice is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium.

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“Edward was my Great Uncle, the younger brother of my grandfather, Algina Williams. In his memory I bought a ceramic poppy from the installation of 888, 246 poppies at the Tower of London. I also nominated him for the Roll of Honour at the Tower, where every evening at sunset the Last Post was played, and the Yeoman Warder read out the names of some of those who gave their lives in the First World War. Edward Williams was remembered on 24th September 2014.

Algina survived the war. His lungs had been badly affected by gas and I remember the cough that plagued him all through his life. He had a gunshot wound on his left hand, which he told me was a war injury.  This made it impossible for him to use the hand until many years later an unexploded firework went off in his hand & restored its use to him (Family lore). He died in 1966.”

Kathy Williams, Great Niece

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🕊️ “Their name liveth for evermore.”

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