George Trevor Williams

Key Information

Name: George Trevor Williams,
DoB: October 19 1888, Loughborough.
Regt:  Captain Royal Field Artillery
DoD: April 19 1918 
Academic Career: CGS 1901-6

Biographical Information

  • Family Background

    George was the son of Rev. George Henry Williams, head master of Carlisle grammar school, and  Florence Marion nee Williams. His paternal grandfather had been a cab driver from Wales.  George Senior was born in Canarvonshire and mother Florence was from Burnley in Lancashire. George himself had been born in Loughborough. In the 1891 census George Williams was headmaster of a grammar school in Devon. In 1901 he was a headmaster in Kendal. As young George joined the Carlisle grammar school in September 1901, the family must have moved to Carlisle by then. George Williams Senior was headmaster of the grammar school from 1901-1912. In the 1911 Census young George Trevor was 22 and living as a boarder in Newcastle-upon-Tyne as an engineering draftsman.

    The Carlisle Grammar School Memorial Register records the following information about its Headmaster from 1901-1912:
    “1901 Williams, Rev. George Henry, Appointed April, 1301; educated at Friars’ School, Bangor, and Christ Coll., Brecon; Jesus Coll., Oxford, Scholar; 2nd Class Classical Mod., 1881; B.A. (2nd Class Lit. Hum.), 1883; M.A., 1886; Ordained, 1887; formerly Second Master, Loughborough Grammar School, 1884-9 and C. of Loughborough, 1887-9; Head Master of Kingsbridge Grammar School,(Devon) 1889-91; of Kendal Grammar School, 1891-1901; of Carlisle Grammar School, 1901-12; R. of Remenham, Henley-on-Thames, 1912.  Author, Careers for Our Sons. Address: Remenham Rectory, Henley-on-Thames.”

    George’s brother, Arthur Hugh Kay Williams, also a former pupil of the grammar school, served in the Berkshire Yeomanry and 41 Cavalry (2nd Lt, Lt & Capt).

  • Academic Record

    1901-06 CGS County Council Major Scholar, 1905. Open Entrance Exhib. (£15), Armstrong Coll. of Science, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Oct., 1906. Senior Pemberton Scholar, 1907. B.Sc., Durham, 1908. Pemberton Fellow of the 292 REGISTER Univ. of Durham, 1909. M.Sc, Durham, 1909. B.Sc, (Engineering), London, 1908. Advanced Student, Trinity Coll., Cambridge, 1909-10. Engineer and glass manufacturer.

    In 1914 he was Manager of Chance Brothers & Co. Ltd., the company was taken over by Pilkingtons in 1945.

  • War Service

    George enlisted on the 3rd August 1914, he was 147lbs and 5ft 10″ tall. He stated on his application that he’d been in ‘K’ Company 3rd Volunteer Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers from 1906 -08 and then in the Inns of Court O.T.C.His referee Mr Owen, retired Principal of Armstrong College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne described him as a “highly skilled engineer”.  Served in France, Gallipoli and Mesopotamia. Capt., Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery (38TH BTY 9TH BDE) Died  of a fractured skull,  at Station Hospital, Rawalpindi, India, the result of an accident, April 19, 1918.

    Enlisted as a Trooper (#1087) in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps Squadron on 3 Sept 1914

    Commissioned into the RFA on 13 Oct 14

    Captain, RFA during the Great War

    Served in France (1914-15), at Gallipoli (1915), in Egypt (1916),  in Mesopotamia (1916) and in India (1916-18)

    Embarked for Egypt on the Ionian at Devonport on 3 July 1915. At the time he was serving with 60th Brigade, RFA

    Invalided

    George died in hospital at Rawal Pindi, India, as a result of a fractured skull in April 1918; he was not on duty at the time of the accident. Exactly what caused this to happen is not stated on the report of the RFA 38th Battery 9th Brigade of his death.

  • Battalion

    Royal Field Artillery

  • Other

    In the 1911 Census George was boarding in Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was an engineering draughtsman.

    Grave Reference 2. E. 10. RAWALPINDI WAR CEMETERY

    When he died his brother Captain Arthur Hugh Kay Williams, of the Central India Horse was also in India. He came and collected his brother’s effects and paid his bills. Despite this, his father was still writing to the War Office two years later needing a final settlement so that he could get probate.

    He left £814 5s 7d in his will, £100 to his mother, £150 to his sister and the rest to his father.

    The family  a verse from St John’s gospel inscribed on his gravestone ” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend”

  • Sources

    The Carlisle Grammar School Memorial Register

    National Archives, Kew WO339/18227

    1911 Census: RG14 30567; 1901: RG13/4913; 1891: RG12/1718

    The Inns of Court O.T.C. during the Great War*

      University of Durham Roll of Service 1914-1919*

     Embarkation Return of Detachments, 3 July 1915*

    *Courtesy of Dick Flory, Great War Forum