George Edward Williams

Private - Service No. 201188 - 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment

George Edward Williams, the son of James Williams and his wife Harriet (Harris), was born 10th August 1893 in Mulbarton, Norfolk. He was the seventh of eleven children born to the couple, all in Mulbarton, Arthur (1881), Walter (1883), Clifford (1885), Frank (1887), Eva (1889), Harry (1891), Anna (1895), Alice (1898), Sybil (1901) and John (1904). James had married Harriet in Norwich in 1880 and settled in Mulbarton, on Norwich Road, just around the corner from James' parents who were living by Mulbarton pond, in those days 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.

In 1916 George married Ada Lily Mayes in Holt, Norfolk. Ada was born on 12th August 1892 in Ashwellthorpe, Norfolk, the daughter of George Mayes and his wife Hannah (Taylor). George and Hannah had nine children in Ashwellthorpe, of whom three died in infancy, before moving to Holt in the early 1900s. It was from her new home that Ada married George.

Very shortly after his marriage George joined the 9th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment and was sent to France. His army records do not survive but we do know that he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Norfolk Regiment Casualty Books carry the following entry:-  TYNE COT MEMORIAL - BELGIUM; 

Williams George Edward 201188 Private 9th Btn, Born Mulbarton, Enlisted Norwich.

Died 15-4-18 - France/Flanders, Commemorated Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

Norfolk Regiment 9th Btn. War Diary lists:-  Private G. E. Williams Missing at Ypres 15-4-18.

On 17th July 1919 George's widow Ada was sent £24.8s.3d by the army by way of George's effects and back pay. This included his £14 War Gratuity.

Ada was remarried to Arthur George Warner in late 1920 and they had two sons. Ada died in 1972.

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