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Churton, Near Farndon
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Charles Williamson came from Churton village, just to the north of Farndon. He was the son of local publican Samuel Holland Williamson who was married to Mary Williams. Samuel's family resided at The Red Lion Inn on the main road through the village, which had also been run by his father before him, Richard Williamson, during the later 19th century. |
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The Red Lion, Churton (on the main road between
Farndon and Chester) c.1900. Charles' father Samuel is on the name board on the front of the building. Could that be Samuel in the hat, and Charles one of the boys? (Click to enlarge) |
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(right) 1871 census shows Charles' father as a 12 year old in 1871 at the Red Lion
(click to enlarge) |
The Red Lion (now a private residence) lies on the cross roads in the centre of Churton
THE SOMME, FRANCE
Charles served on the Somme with the 2nd Battalion South Lancashire Regiment and was killed towards the end of 1916 Somme battles at Grandcourt. This was on the sloping battlefield to the north of Thiepval running down to the Ancre Valley.
GRANDCOURT ROAD CEMETERY , GRANDCOURT
Grandcourt was reached on 1 July 1916, by men of the 36th ( Ulster) Division, but it was not taken until the night of 5/6 February 1917 when patrols of the Royal Naval Division found it deserted. It was in German hands again from April to August 1918. Grandcourt Road Cemetery where Charles lies, was made in the spring of 1917 when the Ancre battlefield was cleared. The cemetery now contains 391 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 108 of the burials are unidentified but there is a special memorial to one casualty known to be buried among them. The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker. Today it is not easy to reach, given that it lies in the middle of cultivated fields well away from main roads. The approach is along a single lane leading up from Grandcourt village. This lane become more of a farm track as it reaches the top of the hill. Parking tight against the roadside out of the way of passing tractors, the approach is intially up a few concrete steps then along a perfectly mown turf path through two cultivated fields.
| In July 2009 after a conversation with friend and Farndon neighbour Ken Wakefield, I learned he planned to visit the WW1 battlefields with Neil Lewis and Colin Capewell, also of Farndon, the following month. After a meeting where we chatted about some of the sites to be included on the trip, I invited them to help with the tracing of men of the local memorial. I am please to include here part of Ken's account and some of his photographs. I had visited Grandcourt the previous year, and I include a couple of my own photographs, plus my son Lewis' photo of the Williamson family memorial in Farndon Churchyard. I had visited Grandcourt to trace another soldier and was unaware at that time that Charles Williamson also lay there, so I am very grateful to Ken, Neil and Colin for their help. |
Charles N Williamson of the Old Red Lion at Churton was killed during the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and is buried in Grandcourt cemetery. On a recent visit to the WW1 battlefields of Flanders and France, we set out to find his final resting place. After local museum visits in the morning we set off to find Grandcourt. All sites are well signposted and our sign led us down a narrow road just wide enough for one car with a six foot high bank on each side. Driving on we came to well kept steps leading up the bank to the right. We parked in a field a walked back. Our guide book said that we needed to cross two fields so we climbed the steps. A stubble field lay ahead but across the centre was a perfectly maintained lawned carpet and this was our path. This led to a cornfield with once again a clear path through it to the cemetery. It is one of the smallest but there lies Mr Williamson and below is a photo of his gravestone. A visitors book at the entrance showed that many others had made the journey to this still and tranquil place. The neatness and pristine condition of this and all other sites we saw is a testimony to the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who maintain them.
Ken Wakefield |
Neil Lewis and Colin Capewell, hoping they don't stray off the path, Grandcourt, August 2009
Ken Wakefield and Colin Capewell at Grandcourt, August 2009
Neil Lewis, Ken Wakefield, Colin Capewell at Grandcourt, August 2009
Neil Lewis, Ken Wakefield, Colin Capewell at Grandcourt, August 2009
(above) Looking up towards Thiepval. The top of the memorial can be faintly seen between the trees in the centre.
Looking down the valley towards Grandcourt village and the Ancre Valley
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