Pte 55689 Joseph Bennett Williams

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 20th November 1917
• Commemorated at: Bootle Cem, Liverpool
  Panel Ref: I.CE.360

Joseph Bennett Williams was born in 1898 in Liverpool and was baptised 22nd June 1898 at St Mary's Church, Walton-on-the-Hill, Liverpool. He was the son of Joseph Williams and his wife Margaret Agnes (nee Miller) of 40 Maple Grove Seaforth. His parents were married in 1889 at St Mary’s Church, Walton.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 42 York Street, Walton with their father and mother in law George and Sarah Miller. George Miller is aged 67, born 1834 and is a marine engineer who was born in Scotland and his wife Sarah is aged 64, born 1837 and has no occupation and she was also born in Scotland. His father, Joseph Williams, is aged 34, born 1867 is a railway clerk and was born in Liverpool, his mother, Margaret Agnes, is aged 32, born 1869 in Liverpool and has no occupation listed. They have four children at the time of the Census; Maud aged 10, born 1891, George aged 4, born 1897, Joseph aged 2, born 1899 and Sarah born 1901. The children were all born in Liverpool. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 6 Ruthven Road, Litherland, Liverpool. His father, Joseph, is aged 44, is employed as a railway clerk and his mother, Margaret Agnes, is aged 41, and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty one years and have had seven children of which one had died. At the time of the Census, they have all their surviving children living with them; Maud aged 19 is a box maker in a match-works, George is aged 14, Joseph aged 12, Sarah aged 10 and Eleanor Duncan aged 5 are all at school. Harold is aged 3 and was born in 1908.

Joseph Bennett Williams enlisted in Seaforth and was serving with the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 55689 when he died, aged 19, at Red Cross Hospital, Sydney Aux Co. 2nd South General Hospital, Bristol on the 20th November 1917.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 29th December 1917:

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WOUNDED, NOW DIED OF WOUNDS

King's (Liverpool Regt) -  Williams 55899, J.B.

 Joseph now rests at Bootle Cemetery.

There are 199 burials from the First World War in the Cemetery.

Soldiers Effects to his father Joseph and pension to sister Sarah and dependant Margaret Williams.

We currently have no further information on Joseph Bennett Williams, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.