WILLIAMS Harold

Attended Worcester Royal Grammar School from 1908 to 1911

On 21st September 1915, Harold Williams left the Wiltshire training grounds, entrained at Warminster for Southampton and thence crossed to Boulogne with €˜D’ Company of the 11th Battalion of the Worcesters. The battalion continued training in Picardy and then sailed for Serbia in November 1915, remaining in Macedonia throughout 1916. In April 1917 they found themselves in Greece taking part in the Salonika campaign.

At 21.45 on the evening of 24th April 1917, the Battalion attacked across the Jumeaux Ravine in an attempt to capture trenches held by the Bulgarian Army. A barrage of shells from the enemy caught the Worcesters by surprise but despite heavy casualties, they took their objective and removed the Bulgarians. Four hours of intense fighting followed with the Worcesters beating off several counter attacks whilst coming under constant shell and mortar fire. Finally at 04.00 on 25th April, the order was given to retire, undoubtedly due to the superior strength of the enemy’s artillery. Casualties were high and included Captain Harold Williams.

Sources for additional information: In Dedication to a Future World by Mark Rogers, 1999. The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke of the Regiment, 1928.

A photograph of Captain H. Williams of Worcester, can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 12th May 1917, available at Worcestershire Archives.