Cromer Servicemen and Servicewomen in the First World War

Name	William Williamson
Ward	Cromer
Armed Force	Territorial Army
Notes	He is possibly Private 20711 of the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, formerly 12066 of the Norfolk Regiment. He was born and lived Gresham and enlisted in Norwich. He was the son of Robert and Eliza Williamson, of Gresham, Norwich. The 1st Battalion of the Essex Regiment had landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli, on 25th April 1915. Territorial Army. On the 1911 census he is given as aged 26, and single, a Farm Labourer living at Gresham, the son of Robert and Emily Williamson. 'F' company of the 5th Norfolks, Territorial Army, were based on Cromer, with units at Sheringham, Holt and Melton Constable, which would include Gresham. He is listed in the War Roll in Cromer parish church though without a photograph and is on the Cromer war memorial.
Service Information	He is probably Private 20711 of the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, formerly 12066 of the Norfolk Regiment, though the War Rolll at Cromer lists him as a Private of the 9th Norfolks. It is likely that at some point he was transferred from the Norfok to the Essex Regiment) . He died at sea on 13th August 1915 whilst on HMT Royal Edward aged 20, torpedoed en route to Gallipoli. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey, Panel 144 to 150 or 229 to 233.
Date of Birth	1895
Place of Birth	Gresham
Date of Death	25/04/1915
Place of Death	Off the Island of Kandeloussa
Source	Cromer Post 15th Jan 1915, service records, War Roll Cromer