George Williams

Son of Elizabeth Williams, of Brickyard Cottages, Burgess Rd., Thorneywood, Nottingham, England, and the late George Williams (CWGC). In 1901 (census) Elizabeth was 32 and a widow, she was a lace dresser; the family lived at 53 Windmill Avenue. At the time of the 1911 census Elizabeth was charwoman, living at 103 Pym Street, Nottingham, with one son, William, age 16, a fitters' labourer. George (jnr) emigrated to Canada in March 1911 when he was 17 years old. On his attestation papers for the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in 1915 his next of kin was given as Mrs Elizabeth Williams of 19 Blake Street, Nottingham.

George probably went to Canada to go to Dakeyne's Farm in Nova Scotia under Hind's scheme to train young men in agricultural skills and give them opportunities not open to them at home. Parents gave permission for their sons to take part in the scheme which was recognised by the British and Dominion authorities as a juvenile migration scheme. George sailed for Nova Scotia on the SS Corsican, arriving in Canada on 30 March 1911. At the time he enlisted he was described as a farm labourer.

George attested on 11 January 1915. 201 other ranks in the battalion were killed between 14 and 16 September 1915; George is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial