WAR MEMORIALS IN THE PARISH OF NORTHOP
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
The villages of Northop, Northop Hall and Sychdyn (Soughton)
Name Thomas John Williams
Regiment 10th Btn Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Service Rank and Number Private 240817
Military Cemetery/Memorial Ypres (Menin Gate)
Ref No. of Grave or Memorial Panel 22
Country of Cemetery/Memorial Belgium
Medals Awarded The British War Medal 1914-1920 The Victory Medal 1914-1919
Date and Circumstances of Death 4th August 1917 (According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) and 31st July 1917 (according to the Flintshire Roll of Honour) Killed in Action.
Biographical Details Known Thomas was born in 1897 and lived in the house that is currently 9 Pen y Bryn. (Referred to as Top y Mynydd in early census reports). He lived with his mother Elizabeth and his father Thomas, a roller in the tin plate works at Mold in 1901who later became a foreman. Young Thomas was the only boy and had six sisters Catherine (Kit), Maggie, Rhoda, Jane (Jinny), Ellen (Nell) and Elizabeth (Bessie). It was a Welsh speaking family and they were members of the Bryn Seion Chapel, so young Thomas is also commemorated on the memorial inside the chapel.
When he left school he went to work as an errand boy at Sychdyn Co-op. He joined the army in December 1914 when he was only 17. His military war grave records that he was the son of Thomas and the late Elizabeth Williams. In fact she was alive when he actually died and the family story is that she never got over his death - her only son. She died in 1925.
Thomas and his mother are commemorated on a family gravestone in Northop churchyard as follows:
Regiment 10th Btn Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Service Rank and Number Private 240817
Military Cemetery/Memorial Ypres (Menin Gate)
Ref No. of Grave or Memorial Panel 22
Country of Cemetery/Memorial Belgium
Medals Awarded The British War Medal 1914-1920 The Victory Medal 1914-1919
Date and Circumstances of Death 4th August 1917 (According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) and 31st July 1917 (according to the Flintshire Roll of Honour) Killed in Action.
Biographical Details Known Thomas was born in 1897 and lived in the house that is currently 9 Pen y Bryn. (Referred to as Top y Mynydd in early census reports). He lived with his mother Elizabeth and his father Thomas, a roller in the tin plate works at Mold in 1901who later became a foreman. Young Thomas was the only boy and had six sisters Catherine (Kit), Maggie, Rhoda, Jane (Jinny), Ellen (Nell) and Elizabeth (Bessie). It was a Welsh speaking family and they were members of the Bryn Seion Chapel, so young Thomas is also commemorated on the memorial inside the chapel.
When he left school he went to work as an errand boy at Sychdyn Co-op. He joined the army in December 1914 when he was only 17. His military war grave records that he was the son of Thomas and the late Elizabeth Williams. In fact she was alive when he actually died and the family story is that she never got over his death - her only son. She died in 1925.
Thomas and his mother are commemorated on a family gravestone in Northop churchyard as follows:
Peace
Er Serchog Gof Am
Elizabeth
Anwyl briod Thomas Williams
A Hunodd Mai 25 1925
Hefyd Pt Thomas J Williams
Mab yr ychod
A Rhoddodd Ei Fywyd I Iawr
Yn y Rhfel Awst 1917
Yn 20 mlwydd oed
Hedd Perfaith Hedd
Er Serchog Gof Am
Elizabeth
Anwyl briod Thomas Williams
A Hunodd Mai 25 1925
Hefyd Pt Thomas J Williams
Mab yr ychod
A Rhoddodd Ei Fywyd I Iawr
Yn y Rhfel Awst 1917
Yn 20 mlwydd oed
Hedd Perfaith Hedd
Private Thomas J Williams 240817
Standing at the back on the right is Thomas John's father. He was a foreman roller at the tin plate works in Mold. Here he is with his workmates.
Thomas John Williams (left) an errand boy at Sychdyn Co-op 1912 when he was 15.
Thomas and Elizabeth Williams the parents of Thomas John Williams.
Thomas John was the only son. Here are his six sisters. Back from left Rhoda, Maggie and Kit. In front Jinny, Nell and Bessie
Thomas John Williams on the right, pictured with some comrades.
The County Herald
28th September 1917
28th September 1917
Many thanks to family member Tegwyn Roberts for photographs and extra information
