Heslop’s Local Advertiser 21/07/1916

Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Ernest Edwin Williamson was born 1875 and baptised, February 28th 1875 at Sedgefield, County Durham, the eldest of 3 sons and 3 daughters. His father Thomas Williamson, native of Greatham, County Durham born 1842, married, Emma Fenwick born 1850, in the district of Chester-le-Street in 1874. Living at 9, Tees Place, Hartlepool in 1881 his father was an unemployed innkeeper, ten years later he was employed as a farm bailiff for a landowner ensuring his tenant farmers kept their farms in a good state and paid the rent on time. Ernest (16) worked for the railway as a clerk, his younger siblings were scholars. Continuing working for the railway as a canvasser, explaining the facilities available to companies and trying to secure their business took Ernest to Lancashire where he was married at West Derby in 1906 to Helen (Nellie) Thomas born 1877 at Browney Colliery, County Durham. They set up home at Heworth, in 1911 they were living at 12, Stowell Terrace with their daughter Maud aged 2 years.

Ernest’s military record no longer exists one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, it is therefore impossible to know much of the details of his service. At the outbreak of war despite being close to the maximum age limit for service, aged 39, he enlisted and was assigned as 1652 to the 20th Battalion (Tyneside Scottish) Northumberland Fusiliers. He joined them at their training camp in the grounds of Alnwick castle, Northumberland. The battalion joined the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division at Ripon in June 1915. In late August they moved to Salisbury Plain to begin final training and proceeded to France in January 1916, concentrating at La Crosse, east of St Omer. They were in action during the Battles of the Somme, including the capture of Scots and Sausage Redoubts, attacking just north of the village of La Boisselle, not far from Albert. At 7.28 am on 1st July 1916 two great mines were detonated beneath the German positions, one to the north of the village and one to the south. At 7.30 am the attack began, the 1st Tyneside Scottish had 500 yards to cover, under heavy machine gun fire, before reaching the German lines, 26 Officers and 564 men from this battalion lost their lives. During his service Ernest Williamson rose to the rank of Regimental Quartermaster Serjeant.

RQMS 1652 Ernest Edwin Williamson Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action during the Battle of Albert, July 2nd 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from the United Kingdom and South Africa killed on the Somme 1915-1918, who have no known grave. He was 41 years old.

His widow Helen received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their children and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 12, Stowell Street, Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham. His daughter Louisa was born during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June) 1916, after his departure and whom he never knew, nor she, him.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Heslop’s Local Advertiser 21/07/1916 carries an In Memoriam notice which reads:
“Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant Ernest Williamson, killed in action on July 2nd. Husband of Helen Williamson (nee Nellie Thomas) 8 Stowell Terrace, Heworth.”

Ernest Edwin Williamson is remembered at Heworth on H92.03

The CWGC entry for Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant Williamson