Private Hugh Griffith Williams, 3578, 1/6th (Carnarvonshire & Anglesey) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died, by accidental drowning, age about 25, on 18 May 1916 in the Egyptian Theatre of War.
The Battalion was formed in Carnarvon in August 1914 as part of North Wales Brigade, Welsh Division. On 13 May 1915 the formation became the 158th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. In July 1915 it sailed for Gallipoli, via Imbros, and disembarked at Suvla Bay on 9 August 1915. After enduring much loss from the fighting and the severe conditions, it was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915 and moved to Egypt in a much depleted state.
Private Williams enlisted at Carnarvon and arrived in the Balkans on 1 December 1915, probably as one of a large number of replacements. It is recorded that he accidentally drowned in a canal in Egypt.
Born at Llandwrog, Carnarvonshire and resident at Holyhead. He was the son of Hugh Griffith and Mary Williams. His father was a Slate Quarryman and in 1901 the family lived at Llys Ellen, Llandwrog and comprised Hugh Griffith Williams (54) Mary Williams (47), Maggie (18), Hugh G Williams (10) and Annie (8). Two children had been born earlier and had left the family home - Mary Elizabeth Williams (b. about 1876) and Laura Williams (b. about 1879). He married Maggie Ellen Pritchard at Holyhead in 1909.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. Grave location M.3 Beni Salama Cemetery Memorial.