Thomas Hamer's Story.
Birkenhead News 14 December 1918
“He has gone west to the gathering place of a great land of splendid heroes,” wrote Lieut. Colonel Stitt, in referring to the death of a Birkenhead lad, Driver Thomas H Williams, of the R.G.A. After seeing much active service the young fellow succumbed to pneumonia in the 55th General Hospital, France, Dec. 1st.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Williams, of Chenotrie, Noctorum, Driver Williams was in Holland when the war broke out, with the Y.M.C.A. Scouts.
Educated at Oxton School he was a member for eight years of the choir of All Saints Church, and was a pupil of the organist, Mr. Hurst. He entered the office of Messrs. J. A. Stephens and Co., cotton merchants, of Liverpool, where he gained great respect for his sterling qualities, and upon his death being announced the flag of the Cotton Exchange was flown at half-mast. The lad was a member of the Star of Providence Lodge of Oddfellows, M.U., and his father was one of the most prominent workers in the Order in Birkenhead, this year holding the position of Provisional Grand Master of the joint Boroughs of Birkenhead and Wallasey.