Fus Edward Alexander Williams, 862108 (Deceased)

[Braz]

A member of the Denbigh Branch of the RWFCA came to our last Meeting on Fri 26th March 10 with a letter off someone that had just returned from India.

Whilst visiting a War Cemetery there, ( GAUHATI War Cememtery) in Assam State they noticed a Grave of 862108 Fus Edward Alexander Williams. It seems he joined another Regiment and transferred to the Royal Welch Fusiliers in India.

His family originate from Denbighshire but moved to Lancashire. He was the Son of William and Sidney Williams and Husband of Alma Williams of Rochdale Lancs.

Date of Death is 12/6/1944, Grave Memorial Reference 1.K.25, Age 29 years. Casualty Type, Commonwealth War Dead.

The person/people that sent this letter were wondering if the late Fus Williams has any living relatives in Lancs or Denbs as they have photographs of his Grave etc.

Anyone any idea how to help them, as it's all new to me. Many thanks Braz, Denbigh Branch RWFCA.

[ap1]

Just some background info: CWGC states he was a member of the 1st Bn. His date of death is during the period immediately after victory at Kohima on the advance to Imphal. This is what the CWGC says about the cemetery.

Gauhati War Cemetery was started during the Second World War for burials from the several military hospitals posted in the area. Later, other graves were brought in by the Army Graves Service from Amari Bari Military Cemetery, Sylhet Military Cemetery, Mohachara Cemetery, Nowgong Civil Cemetery and Gauhati Civil Cemetery, where permanent maintenance could not be assured.

There is a CWGC Cemetery at Kohima and because he wasn't interred there, its likely that he was wounded and then casevaced back to a military hospital near Gauhati, where he later died. The battle for Kohima ended on about the 13th May. The 1st Bn then had a short period of rest before beginning operations to defeat the Japanese holding the area around Aradura. They had a bit of a kicking whilst in the process of taking over " The Royal Berkshire Regiment Box" on the 28th May( a jungle defensive position). They were overrun by the Japanese and had to mount a fighting withdrawal in complete disorder. The area of Aradura was finally captured on the 6th June 1944 by troops including the 1st Bn.