Herbert Raiseberry Williams
The soldier:
Herbert Raiseberry Williams joined the army prior to the war, as he was listed in the 1911 census as a 21 year old ‘single’ soldier stationed in Shorncliffe Camp, Folkstone, Kent (This tallies with his place of enlistment being later listed as Dover, Kent).
On the 10th October 1918, whist serving as a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry (regimental number 8783) he was mortally wounded, dying of his wounds, aged 28.
He is buried in the Abbeville Communial Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Plot IV. Row C. Grave 18. His name also appears on Snettisham’s Roll of Honour and both its memorials.
Herbert was clearly a brave and skilled soldier. He had previously been awarded the ‘Distinguished Conduct Medal’ (2nd only in order to the Victoria Cross). His DCM Citation supporting this, from the London Gazette reads:
‘8783 Cpl. H. WILLIAMS 2nd Bn.(S. Kensington)
In an attack near Hermies on the night of the 11th-12th September 1918, he led his platoon forward with conspicuous gallantry and skill under heavy machine-gun fire, rushing three of these guns and killing the crews. Later he took command of the remnant of two companies and organised a defensive position under great difficulties. (LG. 10 January 1920)’
The man:
Herbert Raiseberry Williams was born in Clapham, London on May 31st 1890 to Robert Williams (34) and his wife, Harriet (35) nee Neal). Robert was born in Holme, Norfolk and Harriet in Grimston, Norfolk. Robert’s occupation as a Police Officer in the Metropolitan Police had taken the couple to London.
Robert and Harriet were married in St. Saviour’s church, Brixton Hill on the 21st May 1881.
Herbert had three older siblings George (born 1884), Albert (born 1886) and Alice (born 1888).
He was baptised on the 25th November 1891. His parents address on the register of his baptism and the 1891 census was 6, Elms Rd, Clapham, London (where they lived with the four children).
By the 1901 census the family had moved to 4, Russell Road, Walthamstow (Police Officers often being moved postings). All the older children were still at home, Herbert now being 10, and they were joined by younger siblings; Robert (b. 1892), Edgar (1895) and Winifred (1899).
By the 1911 census, Robert (Herbert’s father) had retired from the police (1909) and become a ‘police pensioner’ . He and Harriet took the opportunity to return to the area of their youth and they settled in Snettisham, living at Alexandra Villas. By now the older children had left home, leaving only Edgar (16) and Winifred (12) remaining.
We know that Herbert had joined the army by now. Albert had followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Metropolitan Police in 1906. He married Jessie Williams from Great Massingham on the 14th September 1912 and went on to complete 25 years service retiring on the 18th October 1931.
In the Autumn of 1915, Herbert wed Hilda Alice Wentford in Kensington, London. He was 25 and she was 20. Hilda was born in December 1895 in Snettisham, Norfolk and she lived all her years there (until past the 1911 census) with her parents George and Lucy running the Red Lion pub. This marriage clearly links Herbert to Snettisham after his parents move.
On the 7th March 1916, Hilda gave birth to a daughter named Hilda Olive Ada Williams. She was baptised on the 26th March 1916 in St. Michael and All Saints, Hillside, Willesden, London. Both Hilda and Herbert appeared on the baptism register, Herbert’s occupation being listed as ‘soldier’.
Following his death army records show all private Herbert R Williams personal effects going to his widow Hilda A.
