Long Service in the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

 

Royal Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

PO 1893 Sergt. Herbert Williams, R.M.L.I.

Herbert Williams, the son of Thomas and Jane, was born on 4th April and baptised in the Holy Trinity Church, Eccleshall, Staffordshire on 22nd April 1855. The 1861 Census records the family as resident in Wootton near Eccleshall, gives Thomas' occupation as farm labourer, and lists three children: Meshach (8 years), Herbert (6 years) and Merab (2 years). By the time of the 1871 Census, Thomas, now aged 59, had moved to Elford Heath, Horsley, where he was a farmer of 16 acres, but Herbert, now 15 years old, was a domestic servant at a farm at Mill Meece, a few miles north of Eccleshall, and it was here that he met 14 year old Annie Lowe, also working as a domestic servant, who would become his future wife.

  

On 4th August 1877, Herbert Williams joined the Royal Marine Light Infantry at Hull. His Service Papers describe him as just over 5' 7" tall with sandy hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion and his religion is stated as Church of England. Herbert spent the first year of his naval service at the Royal Marine Recruit Depot at Walmer before being posted to the Portsmouth Division, where he made steady progress in his career. He passed for Corporal on 30th October 1879 and was subsequently promoted on 11th May of the following year while serving at HMS Vernon, a Royal Navy shore base which had been established in 1876 as the Navy's torpedo school.

On 17th October 1882, Herbert married Annie Lowe, his old sweetheart, in Eccleshall, his home town. Herbert's progress through the ranks took another step with his promotion to Sergeant on 1st January 1883. During the following years, his conduct was characterised as "exemplary" or "very good"and he served with the Portsmouth Division, the Command Depot and various ships, including HMS Hector, HMS Northampton and HMS Asia. On 14th February 1888, Herbert received his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, which appears to be his sole entitlement.

The 1891 Census records Herbert, now a Royal Marine Colour Sergeant, and Annie residing at 13 Trafalgar Square, Alverstoke, Hants, together with their three children: Merab Annie (7 years), Albert Hector (5 years) and Ida May (1 year). On 6th August 1898, Herbert was discharged from the Royal Marines after 20 years of service and the Williams family appear to have returned to Staffordshire.

The 1901 Census records the family living at Albany House, Bushbury, near Wolverhampton. Herbert now aged 45 was working as a clerk, while his eldest daughter Merab was a 17 year old pupil teacher and his son Albert was a messenger for a drawing office. By the time of the 1911 Census, Herbert and Annie were living at Walmer Villa, 130 Gorsebrook Road, Wolverhampton. Unlike previous censuses, the 1911 Census included the additional information that the marriage had lasted 28 years and had resulted in five children, three of whom were still alive. Herbert, now aged 55, was working as a coal dealer. Some time after this, Annie Williams died and the 1921 Census lists Herbert as a 66-year-old widower and retired coal dealer and still living at the same address. His 31-year-old daughter Ida May, single and employed as an elementary school teacher at St Andrew's Girls School, Wolverhampton, was still living at home.

I have not been able to ascertain the exact year of Herbert Williams' death but he does not seem to be recorded on the 1939 Register so presumably he died some time before this.