WILLIAMS Philip Penry

The birth of Philip Penry Williams is registered in the June Quarter 1876 under the Tenbury Registration District.

1881 Census
Napleton House, Kemspey, Worcestershire
Philip Seymour Williams, Head, age 38, No profession Trade or Calling, Income from houses, lands and dividends, born Brecknockshire, Wales
Susannah E.B. Williams, wife, age 37, born Tenbury, Worcestershire
Philip Penry Williams, son, age 5, born Burford, Shropshire
Susannah Hamilton Williams, daughter, age 3, born Kempsey, Worcestershire
Arthur Boleyn Williams, son, age 2, born Kempsey, Worcestershire
Charlotte Mary Williams, daughter, age 5 months, born Kempsey, Worcestershire
Mary Ann Davis, Nurse, age 24, born Burford, Shropshire
Mary Ann Gibbs, Cook, age 22, born Norton, Worcestershire
Eliza Evans, Housemaid, age 17, born Ashford, Shropshire
Elizabeth Annie Marsh, Nurse Maid, age 17, born Brecknockshire, Wales

The inscription on the memorials reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Philip Penry Williams son of Philip Seymour Williams and
Grandson of Revd. Caleb Whitefoord,
who was killed in action at Sanna’s Post
South Africa March 31st 1900 Aged 24 years
THOU GAVEST HIM LONG LIFE EVEN FOR EVER AND EVER.”

Philip’s brother, Arthur Boleyn Williams, served in the Boer War. He is remembered for his service on Worcester Kings School Boer War Memorial.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Dave Scrimger:
Philip Williams was born on the 9th March 1876, the son of Philip Seymour Williams and Susannah Elizabeth Bailey (nee Whitefoord) Williams. Siblings: Susannah Hamilton Williams, Arthur Boelyn Williams, Charlotte Mary Williams, Francis Seymour Williams, Claude St Maur Williams.

On the 31st March 1900, Robert’s Horse was involved in a surprise attack by the Boers on a company of the Royal Horse Artillery near Ladybrand. Robert’s Horse acted as a rearguard to save some of the guns from capture. An officer commented on the action saying, “Nothing could have been finer than the conduct of Robert’s Horse throughout the trying hours.”

It is mentioned that approximately 70 British soldiers were taken prisoner in this action, Williams must have been one of them as he is counted as missing at this time. As he was not an officer he would not have been mentioned by name in the reports.

Whether he died of wounds or died in captivity does not seem to be known.

Sources: AngloBoerWar.com, My Heritage, Boer War Casualties Catalog