Nathaniel's Story.
Birkenhead News 16 February 1918“A GOOD CONSCIENTIOUS SOLDIER”
Killed in Palestine.
News has been received by Mr. John Williams, of 355, Price Street, Birkenhead, that his eldest son, Private Nathaniel Williams, was killed in action in Palestine on Nov. 20th. He joined the Cheshire Yeomanry about 2 ½ years ago, but had since been transferred to the K.S.L.I., where he was acting as a stretcher bearer. He went to Egypt about two years ago, and was only 20 years of age when he was killed. Before enlisting he was employed by Messrs. Irwin’s, Beckwith Street. The late soldier’s platoon officer has written to the bereaved father and Pte. Williams’ aunt, who since his mother’s death had brought him up, in the following sympathetic terms :- “I should like to tell you how deeply I sympathise with you in the loss of your son out here in Palestine. I have been his platoon officer practically ever since he joined, so I know what a good conscientious lad he was, and how much he was liked by the others in the platoon. He was killed instantly during a night attack we were making.”
The following is an extract from a letter received from the headmaster of St. Anne’s School where Pte. Williams was educated :-“I have lost many of the best of my scholars, but none finer of physique and character, personal good qualities, or of brighter and happier promise for the future. I shall treasure his memory always.”
Mr. Williams’ second son, John Henry Williams, entered the Army this week on attaining his 18th birthday.
Although the newspaper article reproduced above reports Nathaniel’s death as occurring on the 20th November, his actual date of death is the 30th November, as recorded in military papers and the Commonwealth War Graves database.