WILLIAMS, Edward

Edward Williams was the elder son of Mr and Mrs H. Williams of Ivy Lodge, Norton Road, Stourbridge. He was educated at Stourbridge Grammar School and excelled at sport, both football and cricket. He was a very popular figure in Stourbridge and by 1914 he played for Stourbridge Cricket Club. In August 1914 he volunteered for the Worcestershire Yeomanry, though only 17. He then volunteered for infantry service in Gallipoli, following which he returned to the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars when they went out to Egypt. He fought in the disastrous battle of Katia in March 1916 and was one of the many taken prisoner by the Turks. He spent nearly three years in captivity and returned to Stourbridge in January 1919. He resumed his football and cricket but died in a tragic motor cycle accident at the junction of Market Street and Greenfield Avenue. He had been a keen motor cyclist and a verdict of accidental death was given by the coroner at the inquest. His funeral was at St. Thomas's which was packed with his friends, his colleagues in the Yeomanry and even a fellow prisoner with him in Turkey. Trooper Eddie Williams was 21 years of age and was buried in Stourbridge Cemetery, where a large monument was placed over his grave, and commemorated on the Stourbridge and St. Thomas church Memorials. The church also commemorates him with an fine mosaic wall memorial.