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245897 Lt. John Llewellyn "Darkie" Williams British Army 9th Btn. Durham Light Infantry from:Spennymoor John Williams was born on 31stof October 1914, in Brandon, Co. Durham. His father, John D. Williams was a miner and a Sergeant in the local Territorials, 6th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. When his son was born Sgt Williams was at War Stations on the coast. He went to France with the 1/6th. Battalion and saw action in the Battle of Ypres, where he would be slightly gassed and loose a leg.
John's earliest memories were of being held up, by his mother, to see a Zeppelin, lit up in the sky by search lights, and also of seeing his father, standing in a doorway, in uniform, with both legs.
John was educated at the state school by a teacher called Mr.Shipman. Mr. Shipman was a First World War Veteran who had been shot through the wrist, this resulted in him having a club like hand. John, on many occasions received the unwanted attentions of this club, mainly over the back of the head.
When John left school, he went to work down the local coal mine. By this time he would have been around 14 years old and the family had moved to Spennymoore, Co.Durham. When he saw his friend being killed in a pit accident, John decided to enlist in the Army as a Boy Bandsman. He joined the Band of the 1st. Battalion, The Durham Light Infantry, however he did not like it so ran away. The Band Master spoke to John's father, telling him that if his son should run away again, he would not be allowed to rejoin the regiment. Boy Williams returned to the band, but ran away for a second time. Late that evening he made his way to his fathers house, but it was late and the door was locked, John decided to throw some small stones at the window to attract his fathers attention. "Who's that" came the call. "It's Me, Dad, I've ran away from the Army!" There was a slight pause, then his father said "Well you can bloody well run back again!" and closed the window. So John was left with no other option. He went back to his Regiment. Later, after a fight in the band room, Boy Williams was sent to see the Bugle Major, to become a Boy Bugler.
John became a Company and then a Battalion Boxer and became a marksman with the 303 Lee Enfield Rifle. John had almost blue black hair and a dark complexion, so he had always been known as Darkie.
In September 1939 the 1st Battalion D.L.I were in China, they were soon sent to Egypt to face the might of the Germans. John did not stay with the Battalion, but was sent back to Britain, By this stage he was a Warrant Officer 2nd Class. He was Commissioned, Lieutenant, on the 20th of March 1943. At some point in early 1944 he was posted to the 9th. Battalion, The Durham light Infantry, which had just returned from fighting in the Middle East. It was while the Battalion was at Saffron Walden that Lt. Williams first met Charles Eagles. They were both keen Boxers and were never out of the gym.
John was ordered to form an Assault Pioneer Platoon, which would be part of the Battalions S Company. They would be trained in setting and disarming Mines and booby traps, as well as being trained infantrymen. John decided to ask Pte. Charles Eagles, An Ex-Commando to volunteer, which he did. They knew that they were training for the second front. John was wounded at Lingevres on the 14th of June 1944, his Sergeant, Charles Eagles, carried him out of the fire zone and to safety. Charles then returned to the attack. John went to the Bn. aid post and then was moved to a mobile surgical hospital. He had recived a gun shot wound to the right hip. Also a gun shot wound to the left shin, this had passed through the bone shattering it and appeared to have been caused by a 9mm round. He had also been shot through the left leg, just above the knee. This had gone in at an angle and shattered about an inch and a half of bone. Because of the nature of his wounds and the weight of causalities on this hospital, the surgeons decided to amputate John's left leg. The paper work was filled in and John was put on the surgeon's table. However more serious causalities came in and John was put to one side, still with both legs. The wound was dressed and he was sent to a C.C.S. When he was well enough, he was put on board a plane and flown to a hospital in the U.K. John was a member of the some Regiment, Brigade and Division as his father . His father had lost a leg and John had come within minutes of loosing his!!
When he had recovered he had to go in front of a medical board before rejoining his unit. He had quite a job convincing the board that he was Lt. J L Williams, because according to the documents they had before them, Lt. Williams only had one leg!.
John ended the war in Austria. He was later promoted to Captain, then Major. He was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct medal in 1948. He went on to serve with the 1st. Bn.DLI in Cyprus, as Q.M, where he was wounded again when a terrorist blew up a wall he was passing with a fellow officer. He retired in 1960, but went on to become the Recruiting Officer for South Shields. He was the last man in the British Army to wear the badges of the Durham Light Infantry. |
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