Pte Fred GWILLIAM - WW1 soldier Glosters (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Wednesday, December 31, 2014, 22:05 (3683 days ago) @ m p griffiths

I've just belatedly spotted a WW1 War Medal on a wellknown auction site, listed by a Gloucester gentleman.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381099434839?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK...

The medal was awarded to Pte Fred Gwilliam Service Number 12976 of the 9th (Service Battalion) Glosters. I found this auction while browsing for general "Dean Forest" items, I've no connections to the Gwilliam family and will not be bidding. I've mentioned this apparently reputable seller (Richards) in the past, selling Medals from the Goode family of Mitcheldean.
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?id=43908

I hope this post might be seen by ancestors of Fred Gwilliam and, personal financial circumstances permitting, I'm a great believer that such items should be with the family rather than collectors if possible. Please be assured I am not the seller and have no connection with him whatsoever.

For an indication of Fred 12976's WW1 Service see http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/gloucestershirergt9-gw.php
http://www.glosters.org.uk/collectionitem.php?id=7350&from=1914&to=1919&cat...
http://www.remembering.org.uk/glosregtofficers/glos_regt_offrs_orbat.htm

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There are three entries for "F.Gwilliam"s within this website's WW1 Soldier Database, all in the Coleford area, I'm not 100% certain which applies to Fred 12976, perhaps this one ?

Record_ID: 2053
Year: _
Surname: GWILLIAM
Forename: Fred
Rank: _
Regiment: _
Service_Number: _
Residence: Berry Hill
Notes_1: Enlisted 07_October_1914 _ _
Notes_2: _
Newspaper: _
Date_Published: _
Image: _
Soundex: G450

As in the past the medal's seller has helpfully provided some research & believes Fred 12976 was born abt 1888 to Benjamin & Sarah of Shortstanding, Coleford, the auction pages refers to the 1891 Census. I'm not certain he's correct as this website's PRs show a few possibilities including Alfreds etc, perhaps he's selling the medal on behalf of Fred's descendants ?. Assuming he is correct, then;

From this site;
Record_ID: 6151
Entry_Number: 439
Year: 1891
Month: Mar
Day: 25
Parents_Surname: GWILLIAM
Child_Forenames: Frederick
Fathers_Forenames: Benjamin
Mothers_Forenames: Sarah
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Short Standing
Occupation: Haulier
Officiating_Minister: C. Barnes Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born March 22 1888
Notes:
Register_Reference: P82 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 55
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch
Soundex: G450

Happily Fred survived the War;

Record_ID: 82024
Entry_Number: 18
Year: 1918
Month: Nov
Day: 30
Grooms_Surname: GWILLIAM
Grooms_Forenames: Frederick
Grooms_Age: 30
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Carpenter
Grooms_Residence: Shortstanding
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Gwilliam
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Benjamin
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: deceased
Brides_Surname: HERBERT
Brides_Forenames: Francis Laura
Brides_Age: 20
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Lane End
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Herbert
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Walter John
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Engineer
Licence_or_Banns: Licence
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: Sydney Potter
Witness_2: Ada Dora Herbert
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: C Barnes
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P52 IN 1/8
Page_Number: 9
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch
Soundex_Groom: G450
Soundex_Bride: H616

Witness Sidney Potter looks like the Great Uncle of author Dennis Potter as per this thread. Like Fred Gwilliam, Sidney was born abt 1888, so possibly a mate since childhood.
http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=4664

Sadly Fred didn't live to celebrate the end of WW2;
Record_ID: 248024
Entry_Number: 70
Year: 1940
Month: Jul
Day: 20
Surname: GWILLIAM
Forenames: Frederick
Residence: Christchurch Glos
Age_at_death: 52 years
Officiating_Minister: Wyndham Jones vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: new church yard 29 3rd row
Notes:
Register_Reference: P82 IN 1/17
Page_No: 9
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch
Soundex: G450

His wife Frances;
Record_ID: 12138
Entry_Number: 492
Year: 1898
Month: Mar
Day: 23
Parents_Surname: HERBERT
Child_Forenames: Frances Laura
Fathers_Forenames: Walter John
Mothers_Forenames: Caroline Elizabeth
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Broadwell Lane End
Occupation: Engine Driver
Officiating_Minister: E H Brice
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P93 IN 1/7
Page_Number: 63
Parish_Chapel: Coleford
Soundex: H616

I cannot find her death on any site, perhaps she married again ??

Fred's family;
Record_ID: 332435
Entry_Number: 291
Year: 1919
Month: Mar
Day: 23
Parents_Surname: GWILLIAM
Child_Forenames: Frances Elizabeth
Fathers_Forenames: Frederick
Mothers_Forenames: Frances Laura
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Hillers Land
Occupation: Carpenter
Officiating_Minister: C Barnes
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born Feb 21 1919
Notes:
Register_Reference: P82 IN 1/6
Page_Number: 37
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch
Soundex: G450

Record_ID: 1003144
Entry_Number: 326
Year: 1920
Month: Dec
Day: 5
Parents_Surname: GWILLIAM
Child_Forenames: Brenda Dora
Fathers_Forenames: Frederick
Mothers_Forenames: Frances Laura
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Short Standing
Occupation: Carpenter
Officiating_Minister: C Barnes
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born Nov 2 1920
Notes:
Register_Reference: P82 IN 1/6
Page_Number: 41
Parish_Chapel: Christchurch
Soundex: G450

Record_ID: 1058505
Entry_Number: 271
Year: 1923
Month: May
Day: 3
Parents_Surname: GWILLIAM
Child_Forenames: Dulice Mary
Fathers_Forenames: Frederick
Mothers_Forenames: Frances Laura
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Broadwell Lane End
Occupation: Carpenter
Officiating_Minister: E S Morton
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P93/1 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 34
Parish_Chapel: Coleford
Soundex: G450

Record_ID: 1060022
Entry_Number: 450
Year: 1925
Month: Apr
Day: 9
Parents_Surname: GWILLIAM
Child_Forenames: Gordon Frederick
Fathers_Forenames: Frederick
Mothers_Forenames: Frances Laura
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Barnhill
Occupation: Carpenter
Officiating_Minister: E H Brice
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P93/1 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 57
Parish_Chapel: Coleford
Soundex: G450