WILLIAMS Samuel

Unable to identify this casualty on Commonwealth War Graves Commission or Soldiers Died in the Great War.

The following information has been researched by and is courtesy of Geoff Sullivan:
There are 181 men commemorated by the CWGC with the name of S. Williams. All but 12 can be eliminated by full name or next of kin. The remaining 12 were checked in the Soldiers Effects Register (a record of gratuity payments), this register gives the next of kin.
There were two possibles found:
Soldier A: Accidentally killed at a training camp on 25th August 1915, age 19 years, enlisted 1915.
Soldier 8: Died of pneumonia in Egypt 2nd October 1919. age unknown, enlisted 1915.

The following report of soldier 8 appeared in several regional papers on 28th August 1915. His age is given as 19, which would be one year older than our Samuel, but it is possible he gave an incorrect age in order to enlist, a few months before his birthday. Nothing has been found to connect this report to the Upton Warren family, it is believed the story came from the coroner’s report and not, as is usually the case, from the family. No other records have yet been found to provide further confirmation.

FATAL ACCIDENT TO BROMSGROVE MAN
On Thursday, at the Military Camp at Epping, Essex, Coroner C.E. Lewis held an inquest on the body of Private Samuel Williams, 2/5th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, a native of Bromsgrove. Private George Hanson Doidge stated that at 7.15 p.m. on Wednesday he was standing near his tent when he saw the deceased riding a mule down the lines. Suddenly he fouled some wires, throwing the mule to the ground. Williams released his left foot from the stirrup, but was unable to extricate his right foot before the animal regained its legs, and dashed savagely down the lines, dragging the deceased with it. After travelling a distance of 300 yards, during which the unfortunate lad was terribly kicked, the animal was stopped by Bombardier William Stamp, R.F.A.
Lieutenant Archibald Graydon, R.A.M.C., medical officer, stated that death was due to fracture of the skull, laceration of the brain, and consequent cerebral haemorrhage. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death,” and the Coroner recommended that steps be taken to render the wires on the camp more visible.