Frederick John Williams was a Cornish boy (the family came from the Gunnislake/St. Ann’s Chapel area).  He joined the Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry at the start of the Second World War and went off to France to ‘serve King and Country’.  Sadly Fred never returned.   Letters home ceased in 1940 and my grandmother wrote many letters to the authorities to find out what had happened to him.  She eventually received a letter from the War Office in 1942 stating that Fred had been injured and because of the severity of his wounds and the fact that nothing had been heard from him for two years, it had been recorded that he had ‘died of his wounds in a casualty clearing station shortly after 28^th May 1940 while serving with the British Expeditionary Force’.

My father told me that Fred died when the ambulance he was travelling in towards Dunkirk was blown up, but I do not know where he got that story from.  It could be that his body was being transported somewhere and the ambulance story was true. 

Although his death was recorded there was never any record of a grave.  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission site states that he is listed on the Dunkirk Memorial which commemorates nearly 4,700 soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force who fell in the campaign in France and Belgium, in 1939-1940 who have no known grave. The memorial was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother on 29 June 1957. (My grandmother and my dad were in attendance at the ceremony – this was the only time that either of them went ‘abroad’!) I also had a chance to see his name on the memorial during a visit to the area in 2016.

My grandmother also learnt from the War Office that Fred had been awarded a Military Medal for an act of bravery which resulted in him being injured.  When my grandmother died my father decided hat he wanted to give the medal to the Regimental Museum in Bodmin and they very kindly offered to carry out some research into the reason why Fred had received the award. This is the account:-

True extract from ‘The History of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry 1930-1945

By nightfall on the 27^th May 1940 the 2^nd Battalion found themselves to the east of Kemmel (Belgium), one Company at least having got there on the general instruction to move to Kemmel and then march to the sound of the guns.  Their task throughout May 28^th was to assist the 5^th Division in their mortal struggle to hold the Germans at bay in the area south of Ypres while the remainder of the allied forces fell back towards Dunkirk.  The battalion were engaged in very heavy fighting throughout the day, and suffered many casualties, especially in B and C Companies, whose respective Commanders, Captain Farmer and Major Phillipo, were both killed.

Some of the battalion occupied a ridge east of Wytschaete, from which they could clearly see the close-ranked masses of the Germans pressing northwards with little to molest them, for ammunition was low and there was little available air effort left.  By contrast the battalion came under almost constant air attack as the day wore on.  The carrier platoon, as had been the custom throughout the campaign, were operating under the direct control of the brigade commander, Brigadier Barker (later General Sir Evelyn Barker), and they also had an adventurous day.  With ten carriers remaining to them they were ordered to carry out a show of force from Wytchaete, through the village of St. Eloi and then back by another route.  The total distance was about five miles and the exact location of the enemy was unknown.  Captain Pine-Coffin (attached from Devonshire Regiment, Lieutenant Gason wounded and out of action) who at this time commanded the platoon, was instructed by Brigadier Barker to see if St. Eloi was occupied and to shoot up any Germans that might be encountered.

In Captain Pine-Coffin’s own words ‘We encountered the Germans well before we got to St. Eloi and found them in the village itself too.  Fortunately, they had only just got there and our appearance surprised and even scared them.  They obviously thought we were tanks and ran about in all directions for cover.  We took them on with our Bren guns but were a bit inaccurate as the gunners had to stand up and fire from the shoulder.  My own gun I remember, chose to be difficult and refused to fire anything but single sounds which undoubtedly enabled many Germans to remain alive.  One gunner put aside his Bren and instead tossed grenades amongst the Germans sheltering in the ditch beside the road.  (This was Private Williams who lost an arm in the engagement and was awarded the Military Medal for his part in the action.) In all the platoon killed at least seventy that morning and our own casualties were one killed and three wounded.’

A Postscript to the story of Frederick Williams   

In an earlier edition of our newsletter I related the story of my father’s half-brother and how he came to win the Military Medal in World War Two.  A couple of months ago I was forwarded an email from the Saltash Heritage email address, which read as follows:- 

Dear Sir,

I came across your very informative newsletter whilst researching Frederick John Williams, who my grandfather recommended for the Military Medal. I was hoping you might be able to tell me his date of birth, as my grandfather described him as being a young soldier and I believe there might have been some doubt about his actual age and the date of birth he gave for enlistment. Looking at his photograph, he might just have appeared to have looked younger than his actual age.My grandfather was attached to 2nd D.C.L.I. Because he had been posted back to England from India to the machine gun depot at Gosport. He was then  posted to the D.C.L.I.  As they were deployed to Flanders and therefore would not really know the men under his command. My interest in Frederick Williams, is that I believe he was the first soldier he put up for a gallantry award and that Frederick set a very high bench mark. My grandfather went on to Command the 3rd Parachute Battalion in North Africa and General Eisenhower, instructed him to be more generous in his recommendations for medals. He then commanded The 7th (Light Infantry) Parachute Battalion for the rest of the war, taking part in D-Day and Operation Varsity (the Rhine drop), he only made a few more recommendations for gallantry awards. Could I also have permission to use a copy of his picture, as I am attempting to try and put a book together about D-Day. Only one Victoria Cross was awarded to all the British Forces on D-Day. Three of my grandfather’s men’s actions might have been considered worthy of a V.C. On D-Day.

Yours faithfully

Michael Pine-Coffin

In reply to Mr. Pine-Coffin giving permission to use Fred’s photograph and although I couldn’t give him the exact date of Fred’s birth I did find a note from my mother stating that he was born in 1920.  Mr. Pine-Coffin then sent me a copy of the citation written at the time.

In another email he stated:- 

I have not managed to fully resolve the age matter. A small number of boys were allowed to join the army as buglars etc from the age of 14 Norman Wisdom being a famous example.

   An act of Parliament in 1939 stated conscripts could not be sent abroad under the age of 20 and I think this is why Fred was considered to be under age.

 I have spoken with many ex members of 70th Battalions who were called Young Soldier battalions, they joined up for adventure and ended up guarding an aerodrome in the middle of nowhere, that is why many volunteered for the Paras and Commandos.

Still trying to establish at what age the army sent soldiers abroad, it was also different for the Far East

Transcription of above document

During the run of the carrier platoon at WIJTSCHATE on 25^th May 1940, this young soldier displayed initiative, devotion to duty and courage of a very high order. Enemy were lying in the ditch on the side of the road, and formed a difficult shot owing to their proximity. Quickly taking in the situation, Pte. Williams prepared grenades for throwing (more than the usual number were available on his carrier)) and, in all, threw sixteen grenades among the enemy as his vehicle passed up the road, His action must have increased considerably the number of casualties inflicted by the Platoon. Later when his carrier was struck by a shell from an anti-tank gun, and his arm had been blown off, Pte. Williams informed the driver of his casualty, urged him not to stop and to attend to him and continued with his duties for the remainder of the run (as far as he was able with only one arm). I understand that Pte. Williams correct age is under eighteen, and to display such qualities at such a young age stamps him as an excellent soldier  

It is really interesting to see that our newsletter is read all over the country and can provide additional research information for budding authors!!

From a Saltash Heritage News Letter.