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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Lancashire => England => Lancashire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: mympwy on Saturday 16 May 15 10:58 BST (UK)
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Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me find out what actually happened to my great grandfather William Gomer Williams. He was a butcher born St Asaph, a gunner in the royal artillery died 16/1/1944 and buried in Royton Cemetery in Lancashire, no mention anywhere how he was killed....I'm just assuming he was wounded and died at home. Thanks ever so much!
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Hello,
Is there a headstone? There may be a clue there.
Otherwise, you would need his death certificate.
Was he still serving at that time? He was 51 yrs at death.
Heywood
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He was serving in the 463 Bty., 71 Searchlight Regt. so was probably based in England with the anti aircraft forces
Stan
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It was the 71 (E Lancs) Searchlight Regiment RA(TA), http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/sl/page51.html
Stan
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Unless he was killed in an air raid, then it was not by enemy action. As heywood says you would need his death certificate to find out the cause of death. His death is registered at the GRO
William G Williams 51 Mar ¼ 1944 Middleton Volume 8d Page 743
Stan
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Not what you asked for but he left a will/probate.
William Gomer Williams of 13 Campania street Royton
Died 16 January 1944.
Probate: 8 April to Mary Williams widow.
Effects: £255-6s.
K :)
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a gunner in the royal artillery
Just to say that a Gunner is the lowest rank in the Artillery and is the same as a Private, in the Army.
Stan
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He appears to have a mention on the CWGC website
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2700009/WILLIAMS,%20WILLIAM%20GOMER
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That's where I found out which unit he served in.
Stan
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That's where I found out which unit he served in.
Stan
;D ;D
Sorry Stan,
I was replying to Heywood as to whether he had a headstone, I should have shown their question as a quote.
Rosie
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Thank you all for taking the time to look I really appreciate it, I'll order his death certificate. Kelly
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He appears to have a mention on the CWGC website
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2700009/WILLIAMS,%20WILLIAM%20GOMER
Thanks Rosie. I have just seen the message. I was wondering if is said 'Killed in Action' on the headstone, although, of course, it wouldn't explain how he died. I would have gone to look but now we know it was a war death.
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Here is a link to the cemetery register
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-21599-68326-17?cc=1482833&wc=M6G4-9M9:50863401,50875301
Heather
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There may have been something in the local paper. It would be worth having a look.
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Why are there war graves in the UK? "The majority of those buried in the United Kingdom are therefore the men and women who died at home in military hospitals. Others may have died in training accidents or air raids and some were killed in action in the air or at sea in coastal waters" http://www.cwgc.org/media/317921/maintaining_standards_in_the_uk.pdf
Stan