Christopher Harry Williams - Private 74115 - Aged 18 - Son of Capt. Henry Williams and

Charity Williams of 71 Green Lane, Handswoth, Birmingham.

When his birth was registered at Pershore, Worcestershire, in the last quarter of 1899 he was

‘Christopher Henry’. Maybe he had been born close to, or on, Christmas Day but there is another

connection - his mother’s maiden name was Christopher. Henry, his father, was a Serjeant-Major in

the Worcestershire Regiment, which was based at Norton Barracks close to the city of Worcester. In

1901, aged 1-year, Christopher and his mother are in Farnborough, Hampshire staying in the home

of a Colour-Serjeant in 3rd Btn. of the Worcesters - Frederick Cooke and his wife Jane. Cannot find

Henry, his father in this census. Maybe he is elsewhere with his Regiment. In fact, 3/Worcesters

were in Ireland from1902 until 1905 and this explains what shows up in the next census.

In 1911 the whole family is in Kempsey, Worcestershire. Christopher Henry is an 11-year old

schoolboy with four sisters - the eldest of whom was born 1902 in Tipperary, Ireland. The next

sister was also born in Ireland, but the third was born Aldershot - to where the regiment had returned

after 1905. The youngest sister and an even younger brother were born in Worcestershire. So

between 1901 and 1911, the family was constantly on the move.

There is an extensive website for the Worcestershire Regiment containing a list of men who received

Long Service and Good Conduct medals between 1902-1919. Sergeant-Major Henry Williams was

awarded one in July 1907. Colour-Sergeant Frederick Cooke, who looked after Charity and

Christopher in 1901 had attained his in 1902. Christopher enlisted in Birmingham, where his parents

had gone to live; I cannot find his father attaining the rank of Captain; perhaps it was allowed as a

courtesy once he had retired from the Army.