Sydney George WILLIAMSON

08 June 1917

EARBY

MISSING, BELIEVED KILLED

Mrs. Williamson, 42, Skipton Road, Earby, has been officially informed that her son, Private Sydney Geo. Williamson, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, has been missing since April 9th. The family’s suspense has been accentuated by the fact that shortly after the above date. Mrs. Williamson received a letter from an unknown correspondent at the Front stating that he had buried her son, but enclosing nothing by which his identity could be established beyond a doubt. Private Williamson was 20 years of age.

16 November 1917

EARBY FAMILIES BEREAVED

One Son Killed – Another Missing

News of the death of two more Earby soldiers came to hand last week-end. In the case of Pte. William J. Williamson, a stretcher-bearer in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who is officially reported killed in action on Oct. 1st., the blow has fallen all the heavier by reason of the fact that his brother, Pte. Sydney George Williamson, K.O.Y.L.I., was reported missing on April 9th, since when no tidings have been heard of him. They are the sons of Mrs. Williamson, a widow, residing at 42, Skipton Road, Earby, who has another son fighting on the Western front. The first mentioned, was 29 years of age and single. Before joining the army he was a warehouseman employed by the Earby Co-operative Society. A letter from one of his comrades (Pte. J.W. Atkinson, of Skipton), dated Oct. 3rd, states that Pte. Williamson was rather badly wounded by a German shell while in a dug-out. “He got a wound about the size of half-a-crown just over the heart; but we all hope he is in good old England now, making a speedy recovery. He was a stretcher-bearer along with me, and I am very sorry to lose such a good pal. He was a good, willing worker, whose one thought on the battlefield was to get his wounded comrades away to a place of safety… He had got over the push safe and sound, but his company was called into the line again, so he had to go with them.” Following the above letter, Mrs. Williamson received no further news until the announcement of her son’s death.

22 February 1918

WILLIAMSON – Reported missing since April 9th, 1917, now reported killed, Pte. Sydney George Williamson, of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, son of Mrs. Williamson, of 42, Skipton Road, Earby, aged 20.

22 February 1918

EARBY FAMILY’S SECOND BEREAVEMENT

Mrs. Williamson, 42, Skipton Road, Earby, has received an Official intimation confirming the death of her son, Pte. Sydney George Williamson, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, who had previously been reported missing since April 9th last year. He was 20 years of age, and went out to France just before Christmas, 1916. Prior to joining the army he was in the employ of Mr. Joseph Foulds, Brook Shed, Earby. This is the second bereavement the family has sustained during the war, Pte. Wm. J. Williamson having been killed in October last, while another brother (James) is still at the front.

28 March 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Earby Widow’s Sacrifice

The sad news came to hand last weekend in a letter from an army chaplain in France, of the death from wounds of Private James Stanley Williamson, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, which took place in the 3rd Canadian Hospital on March 17th. He was 23 years of age and the second son of Mrs. Williamson, 42, Skipton Road, Earby, who has had two other sons killed within twelve months. These were Private Sydney George Williamson, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (20), killed April 9th, 1917, and Private William James [John] Williamson (29), Duke of Wellington’s, Regiment, killed October 1st, 1917. They were all unmarried. Private James S. Williamson enlisted in the early days of the war and had spent nearly three years in France. The family received a letter from him dated only two days prior to his death, which was due to gunshot wounds in the back, right leg and a fractured arm. He was formerly employed by Messrs. B. W. Hartley, Brook Shed, and was connected with All Saints’ Church, where the Rector (Rev. J. F. Tanfield) made sympathetic reference to the family’s sad loss on Sunday evening.