Capt/Flt. Comm. William Williams RAF/Lancs Fusiliers.

[Hywyn]

W H Williams of Preswylfa is commemorated on the Caernarfon Memorial, North Wales. Christ Church Roll of Honour states he was a Flight Commander, RAF and was killed on 3rd May 1918.

CWGC positively identifies him as Captain W H Williams of the RAF died 3rd May 1918 buried at Ramleh, Israel.It gives his secondary unit as 6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers.

MIR shows William Humphrey Williams as Captain in the Lancashire Fusiliers attached to the RAF as a Flight Commander.

Does anyone know what happened to Capt Williams? The Church R o H differentiates between KIA, D o W, etc.

Is there any significance in the 'attached to' the RAF as opposed to 'transferred to'? A quick look at the Lancashire Fusiliers suggests that the 6th Bn was designated its number in February 1918 whilst on the Western Front. It's predecessor the 1st/6th had left Egypt in 1917.

Is a Flight Commander the RAF equivalent of an Infantry Captain?

Any info appreciated.

Hywyn

[Dolphin]

Hywyn

Airmen Died indicates that Capt W H Williams of No 142 Sqn RAF (formerly 6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers) was killed in an accident when flying a Martinsyde G100 in Palestine on 3 May 1918. No 142 Sqn was based at Ramleh at the time.

I hope that this helps you.

Gareth

[Hywyn]

Gareth

Great stuff, thanks a lot.

Hywyn

[Dolphin]

Hywyn

I was in something of a hurry this morning and didn't answer one of your questions. "Flight Commander" was a role in the RFC/RAF, not a rank. The commander of a Flight, ie generally six aeroplanes, and a third of a squadron (or half of a squadron in bombing units) was usually a Captain.

The RAF rank of Flight Lieutenant which, like most RAF commissioned rank titles, was patterned on the RNAS, wasn't used until September 1919.

Regards

Gareth

[per ardua per mare per terram]

There should be an RAF service record for him in AIR 76 at Kew, which are in alphabetical order. If his army records survive they will be in WO 339 or WO 374.

[Hywyn]

Gareth/Per Ardua

Thanks for the info