Frank Williams

Sergeant - Service No. ...... - Royal Garrison Artillery

Frank Williams, the son of James Williams and his wife Harriet (Harris), was born 8th March 1887 in Mulbarton, Norfolk. He was the fourth of eleven children born to the couple, all in Mulbarton, Arthur (1881), Walter (1883), Clifford (1885), Eva (1889), Harry (1891), George (1893), Anna (1895), Alice (1898), Sybil (1901) and John (1904). James and Harriet had married in Norwich, Norfolk in 1880 and settled in Mulbarton, on Norwich Road, just around the corner from James' parents who were living by Mulbarton pond, although in those days it was simply referred to as "the pit". Some time in the early 1900s the couple, and most of their family, moved to a cottage by the School on the common in Swardeston where James continued working as a bricklayer.

When Frank left school in Mulbarton, at the age of about 13, he became a bricklayer's labourer, probably working with his father. On 20th October 1909 Frank married Jessie Hemnell in Swardeston, Norfolk. Jessie was born on 25th April 1863 in Swardeston, Norfolk, the daughter of Paul Hemnell, the village postmaster, and his wife Sarah (Smith). Paul and Sarah had seven children in Swardeston at the original post office beside the common (demolished in the 1970s).

After their marriage Frank and Jessie lived in a cottage, on the Swardeston turnpike, opposite the Dog Inn. According to the Roll of Honour in the church Frank joined the Royal Garrison Artillery and rose to the rank of sergeant. Unfortunately his army records have not survived and it has been impossible to trace his medal awards up to now. A photograph exists of Frank, in uniform, with wife, Jessie and there is also a family story that, upon arriving home at the end of the war, Frank removed his mud-caked army greatcoat and it stood, unaided, outside the door of the cottage for weeks.

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