14406020 William Roy WILLIAMS, 1st Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders: Italy 7/10/1944

Discussion in 'Italy' started by Mavis Williams, May 23, 2020.

  1. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    Hi, I apologize in advance if I am on the wrong Forum, but wondered if anyone can help with what happened to this soldier please, I can find very little about his birth and family except what is on the 1939 National Register and these details below, but also wanted to know, if possible, how he died and what the 1st Bn Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were doing in Italy at the time of his death.

    Chester Chronicle 11th November 1944 Roy WILLIAMS, Mancot Lane, KIA Italy
    MANCOT
    Killed on Active Service

    Mr. & Mrs. Williams, 73, Mancot Lane, have received news that their son, Roy, has been killed in action in Italy. He was educated at Hawarden County School and before joining the Force two years ago was employed on the clerical staff of the L.M. & S. Railway at Chester.

    Hawarden Grammar School Admissions Register E/GS/1/10
    1903/2788 WILLIAMS, Roy William ,Date of birth – 6th May 1924, 73, Mancot Lane, Queensferry, Father – Turbine Driver, Date of entry 15th September 1936, Previous School - Queensferry, Senior, Left 40.


    Casualty
    Commonwealth War Graves Commission
    Private
    WILLIAMS, WILLIAM ROY
    Service Number 14406020
    Died 07/10/1944
    Aged 20
    1st Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
    Son of Thomas and Miriam Williams, of Queen's Ferry, Flintshire.

    Thanks in advance also for any little titbit of information so I can make sure his story is told and he will be remembered for his sacrifice.
    Kindest regards,
    Mavis Williams
     
  2. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    See page 162 here.
    Chapter 16 – Eighth Division – Fifth Army’s Flying Squad

    Two days later Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders fought their way up Monte Cavallara, and hurled the enemy from its summit. The way was open for a bid for Monte Casalino, a steep tree-clad hill a mile to the north-east. This height barred the way to Monte Gaggiolo, three miles further north, which rose above the gut of high ground where Sword and Star Routes converged to within five miles of each other.
     
    4jonboy likes this.
  3. AB64

    AB64 Senior Member

    Just last night I finished reading a brilliant book "The Mirror of Monte Cavallara" by Ray Ward who commanded A Company 1st A&SH in the attack where Pte Williams was killed, Pte Williams was one of 12 men of A Company killed in the attack on Monte Cavallara - I had a quick look at the section covering the battle and he isn't mentioned by name but near the end where the authors son talks about revisiting his fathers battlefields he gives a list of the 12 A Company men and Pte Williams is mentioned.

    I'd strongly recommend the book, ebay has a few copies fairly cheap
     
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  4. dryan67

    dryan67 Senior Member

    Here is what Graham's regimental history has on October 7, 1944 for the 1st Battalion.
    A&SH01.jpg A&SH02.jpg A&SH03.jpg A&SH04.jpg
     
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  5. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    Thank you both Owen and AB64 for such swift replies with so much knowledge. It will be a boon to me, as I want to help relatives find out what happened to their kinfolk, I know I would want to know all the details. Thank you AB64, I will look on ebay.
    I have just seen what Dyan67 has sent, so many thanks for this, I can add it to William Roy's page when I complete my research, I am stuck on his birth and his parent's marriage, they came from Liverpool, looking at his Army Roll of Honour :-

    William Williams in the UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945
    Name: William Williams
    Given Initials: W R
    Rank: Private
    Death Date: 7 Oct 1944
    Number: 14406020
    Birth Place: Liverpool
    Residence: Cheshire
    Branch at Enlistment: Infantry
    Theatre of War: Italy
    Regiment at Death: Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
    Branch at Death: Infantry

    I found his parent's on the 1939 Nat. Reg.:-
    1939 Register (Taken on the 29th September 1939)
    Williams Household (4 People)
    73 Mancot Lane,Mancot Royal,Queensferry , Hawarden R.D., Flintshire, Wales
    Thomas Williams 25 Jun 1884 Male Electric Power Station Turbine & Engine Man Married 196 1
    Miriam Williams 26 May 1887 Female Unpaid D Duties Married 196 2
    Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.*
    Sorry, this record is officially closed. Check if you can open a closed record.
    *William Roy was probably one of the redacted records as he would have only been about 15 years old then. So did he have a sibling?

    However, I digress again, I cannot thank you all enough, I am always amazed at your expertise.
    Stay safe,
    Regards, Mavis
     
  6. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Hi Mavis,

    included is a map that is taken from the book on 1 A & SH by Brigadier R.C.B. Anderson, D.S.O., M.C. On page 109, it says The loses sustained by the Battalion were 2 officers and 13 other ranks killed and 1 officer and 43 other ranks wounded. The killed were buried in a Battalion cemetery made under the pine trees near Vonnibio. See first map. Also attached is another map with more detail. Does anybody have a idea which CWGC cemetery the above are buried? Not checked on the website. I only ask because i will be in Italy from the 17th October. Bologna CWGC may be? Hope so.
    rsz_20201003_215029.jpg
    rsz_20201003_225106.jpg
    Regards,
    Stu. Edit, just noticed he his buried in the FAENZA WAR CEMETERY V.D.11.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2020
  7. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    Thank you so much, I have added your remarks and the maps to Roy William's page, it will add to his story so much. Thank you so much. Kindest regards, Mavis
     
  8. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Mavis, for Roy William's page, the second map is from the Official History of the Indian Armed Forces In the Second World War
    The Campaign in Italy 43-1945 Historical Section (India & Pakistan) Distributors: Orient Longmans by Dharm PAL, PH.D.

    It looks has if I'm going to miss the the above cemetery which is a shame.Its up to the driver if we do a detour?:unsure: If we cant it will be due to a tight timescale.

    Regards,
    Stu
     
  9. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Are you writing a book or making a website ?
     
  10. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    Thank you for that, I have added to the page with the map. If, by any chance, you manage to get there, could you please take a photograph of this grave for me please? It would be wonderful. I have written his story as best I can, with all the help I have been given from this forum, it is on Williams, William Roy
    Have a good trip, Regards, Mavis
     
    Owen likes this.
  11. Mavis Williams

    Mavis Williams Well-Known Member

    Sorry Stu, I thought that I had added the website on my last message but it didn't go through and I never checked it. It's on flintshirewarmemorials.com, his page is Williams, William Roy
    I hope you approve,
    Regards, Mavis
     
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