Thiepval memorial
D.L.I. Memorial Book
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Wynne Williams was born 1888 in Binchester, County Durham, one of 8 surviving children, 6 boys and 2 girls, (2 deceased) of John Wynne Williams born Flintshire, North Wales in 1865 and Harriet nee’ Williams born 1864 Bishop Auckland, County Durham. His parents married in Bishop Auckland, December 1882 and at the time of his birth were living at Binchester Blocks, Old Park, his father worked as a coal miner. By 1901 he was a foreman labourer below ground and Thomas a mere boy of 13 years was also employed there as a screen boy, a job which entailed working 12 hours a day sorting the coal, removing stones, slate and brasses. Sadly in 1907 his mother died when his youngest brother was only 4 years old. September 1909, in Sedgefield, Thomas Wynne Williams married Sarah Smedley, they had two children James John Wynne born January 15th 1910-1977 and Frederick born 1914 in Chilton.
At the outbreak of war Thomas Wynne Williams enlisted in September 1914 and was assigned as Private 650 to the 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry which after its formation was moved to Cocken Hall and then to Fence Houses near Houghton-le-Spring. Whilst he was there, his brother John Wynne Williams who had enlisted himself in November 1914 and was serving in the 7th Yorkshire Regiment, applied under King’s Regulations 333 (iv) to be transferred to join his elder brother in his regiment and this was accepted. After being moved several times between Cocken Hall, Fence Houses and Cramlington the Battalion was moved February 1915 to Ripon where it joined the 93rd Brigade, 31st Division and in August of the same year was taken over by the War Office. September 1915 it was again moved to Fovant, Wiltshire and December 6th 1915 embarked for Egypt from Liverpool arriving at Port Said to take over defence of the Suez Canal until March 6th 1916 when it embarked for France from Port Said arriving at Marseilles still part of the 31st Division of the Fourth Army.
The following months saw the build-up and preparations for the Battles of the Somme. The main offensive was to be made by the French supported on the northern flank by the Fourth Army. The opening day of the Battles of the Somme began with the Battle of Albert. The attack was made with five divisions of the French Sixth Army and eleven British Divisions including the 31st. It was during this first day of battle that Private 650 Thomas Wynne Williams 18th Battalion Durham Light Infantry was killed in action he was 28 years old. He has no known grave, his sacrifice is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme, France. pier 14a & 15c, raised in commemoration of the 72,194 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South Africa who died in the service of their country before March 1918.
His widow Sarah received his awards of the 14/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, all monies due and a pension. Sarah gave birth to a girl August 15th 1918 and named her Ellen (Nellie) Williams (1918-1998). She remarried, in the district of Sedgefield, September 11th 1920 to Matthew Smith born in Harrogate Hill and went on to have a further 3 children, Richard 1923-1982, Ada 1925-2006 and Matthew 1927 who died later that same year. Sarah died June 16th 1980, she was living at 34, West Chilton Terrace, Chilton, County Durham.
John Wynne Williams died two days after his brother John Wynne /a> July 3rd 1916 a great blow to their family. Their father John Wynne Williams died June 11th 1949 at Blackhall Colliery, County Durham. In God’s safe keeping. Rest in Peace. Thomas Wynne Williams is remembered in Chilton on C107.01, C107.04, C107.08, C107.09 and C107.12
