MY WAR DEAD
WILLIAMSON, William Alfred - died 16th December 1917.
William Alfred Williamson was born in Peckham, south London on 20th July 1897, being the eldest child of John William Williamson, then a grocer, and his wife who had been born Gertrude Martha Cartland. The family was still living in south London in 1901 but had migrated to Brentford by the time of the 1911 census; John Williamson had then changed his occupation at least a couple of times, being a coach painter in 1901 and a pawnbroker's salesman by 1911, when William was recorded as being at school. By this time, William had 2 younger sisters, Gertrude and Edith.
William enlisted in the army at Brentford and initially joined the Army Cyclist Corps. His medal card indicates that he did not see active service before 1916, but he did transfer to the 7th Battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and served in France and Flanders. William was killed in action on 16th December 1917, aged 20, while reportedly with the 1st Battalion of the same regiment, near Cambrai; he was buried in the Ribecourt British Cemetery, Ribecourt-la-Tour, a few miles south-west of the strategic town of Cambrai.
William was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He is not known to have married and had no known children. The Register of Soldiers' effects records that sums due to William were paid to his mother.
William Alfred Williamson was my 4th cousin, twice removed.