Arthur WILLIAMS (1890–1918)
Arthur Williams (sometimes named Arthur William Williams) was born in Church Lane, Old Headington on 4 September 1890. He was the son of Frederick William Williams (born in Headington on 27 July 1859 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 28 August) and Alice Morris (born in Headington on 20 September 1864 and baptised at Holy Trinity Church as Rebecca Alice Morris on 27 November).
His parents already had one child and another was on the way when they were married at Holy Trinity Church in Headington Quarry on 22 July 1888. They had nine children altogether:
- Alice Rose Williams, known as Rosa (born in Headington Quarry and baptised at Holy Trinity Church on 27 June 1887 with the surname Williams, even though her parents did not marry until over a year later)
- Emily Ethel Williams, aka Emily Jane Williams (born in Headington on 14 January 1889 and privately baptised by St Andrew’s Church on 24 February)
- Arthur Williams (born in Headington on 4 September 1890 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 12 October)
- Lily Florence Williams (born in Headington on 3 January 1893 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 5 March)
- Edith Mary Williams (born in Headington on 6 March 1895 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 21 April)
- Norah May Williams (born in Old High Street in 1897 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 28 November)
- Frederick Cecil Williams (born in Old High Street on 7 November 1900 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 23 December)
- Frank Williams (born in Old Headington on 2 May 1903 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 5 July)
- John William Williams (born in Highfield on 9 October 1906 and baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 2 December).
At the time of the 1891 census Arthur (wrong recorded as “Austin”) was a six-month-old baby living at St Andrew’s Road (then called Church Street) in Old Headington with his father Frederick (30), who was a mason's labourer, his mother Alice (26), and his sisters Rosa (3) and Emily Jane (2).
Arthur’s grandfather Joseph Williams, a butcher in the Croft in Old Headington, died at the age of 74 and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 15 February 1894.
At the time of the 1901 census Arthur (10) was at school (almost certainly Headington National School) and living in Old High Street with his father Frederick (41), who was now working as a cowman, his mother Alice (34), and his siblings Emily (12), Lily (8), Edith (6), Norah (3), and Frederick (four months).
By 1911 the family had moved to Rose Cottage at the present 101 Lime Walk (formerly numbered 61), which had just been taken into the new parish of All Saints. Arthur (20), who was working as a butcher's assistant, was living there with his father Frederick (51), who was now a bricklayer's labourer, his mother Alice (46) and his sisters Edith (16) and Norah (13) who were working as dressmakers, and his brothers Frederick (10), Frank (7), and John (4). His other sister Lily Florence (19) was working as a servant at 59 Marlborough Road in south Oxford.
In the First World War Arthur Williams served as a Private, first in the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars (Service No.14001) and then in the 20th Battalion (attached to 124th Trench Mortar Battery) of the Durham Light Infantry (Service No. 25962). He died of wounds in Belgium at the age of 27 on 29 July 1918.
He was buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (XXVIII.G.19A), and his war grave (right) there has the added words:
HIS MEMORY IS AS DEAR TODAY
AS IN THE HOUR HE PASSED / AWAY.
(Only 40% of war headstones bear an inscription such as this near their base: the main inscription was free, but families had to pay 3½d per letter for a personal message.)
He is remembered on the Roll of Honour of All Saints’ Church, Highfield.
Below: Two views of the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery where Arthur Williams is buried
Postscript
Arthur’s parents
Frederick Williams (61) was working as a builder's labourer for Mr Vallis of Headington at the time of the 1921 census and was living at 101 Lime Walk (then numbered 61) with his wife Alice (57) and four of their children: Edith (26), who worked as a domestic servant; Frederick (20), who worked for a grocer in Cornmarket; Frank (18), who was out of work; and John (14), who was a newsagent's boy. They were still living at that address at the time of the 1939 Register, and John was now a shop assistant at a men's outfitters.
- Frederick Williams died at the London Road Hospital at the age of 85 and was buried at Headington Cemetery on 25 August 1944.
- Alice Williams died 92 and was buried with her husband on 8 October 1958.