Sydney Lanfear Williams (1915 - 1944)

Born 19 Jan 1915 in Foxton, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Helen Catherine (Haddon) Williams — married 1941 (to 17 Mar 1944) in New Zealand

Died 17 Mar 1944 at age 29 in Cassino, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy

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World War II

Biography

Sydney Williams is an Anzac who served in World War Two.

Private Sydney Williams was Killed in Action during World War II.

Sydney was born on 19 January 1915. He was the third son of Joseph Williams and Harriett Barnett.

He lived with his parents and siblings in Foxton in the Manawatu area of New Zealand, where his father worked in the Flaxmill industry.

The family then moved to the Waikato, where his father was manager of a large farm in Pukeatua. His father left the family when Syd and some of his siblings were still quite young. No doubt Syd and his brothers had to take over a lot of the farm duties, with the help of hired labour.

Syd grew into a handsome young man and was nicknamed "The Italian" due to his dark complexion and good looks. In the NZ Electoral Rolls of 1938 he was recorded living at 23 Broadway, SE1, Auckland East, employed as a Labourer.

When the Second World War broke out he was working as a farmhand at Pokeno in South Auckland, care of Mr. T. O. Walshe. His name was published in the New Zealand, World War II Ballot Lists (1940-1945) on 6 November 1940. Service No. 264999.

At the age of about 26 Syd married 27 year old Helen Catherine Haddon in 1941. They went on to have two children, a son and a daughter.

His name was again published in the New Zealand, World War II Ballot Lists (1940-1945) on 2 December 1941. He was a farmhand care of 63 Bassett Road, Remuera, Auckland.

His name was then published in the New Zealand Army WWII Nominal Rolls (1 July 1942 - 31 December 1942). He was still working as a Farmhand, care of 63 Bassett Road, Remuera, Auckland. His next of kin was Mrs. H. Williams (wife), 33 Torrance Street, Epsom, Auckland. Service No. 264999.

He served as a Private in the 24th Battalion^[1], "C" Company, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. Syd fought alongside his fellow New Zealanders in the Second Battle of Al Alamein (23 October – 11 November 1942)^[2]. He was photographed at a survivors dinner held in Cairo after their arrival back at Maadi Camp.

He wrote numerous letters back home to his wife Helen, his mother Harriett and sister Eunice; some of which were noticably censored. At Christmas time they were allocated only two cards to send back to family at home. No correspondence that he received back survived unfortunately, apart from some of his wife Helen's later letters, several of which he never got to read. In one letter he wrote to family, he explained that he carried letters as long as he could but had to destroy them after a while as he couldn't carry too many at once.

Sydney fought in the Second Battle of Monte Casino in Italy (17 January – 18 May 1944)^[3], and tragically was killed in action on 17 March 1944. He was 29 years of age. He was buried at Cassino War Cemetery, Cassino, Provincia di Frosinone, Lazio, Italy^[4]. Grave Reference: VI. C. 21.

Inscription:

264999 PRIVATE

S. L. WILLIAMS

N.Z. INFANTRY

17TH MARCH 1944 AGE 29

His wife Helen was left a widow with two young children. She went on to marry Sydney's younger brother Robert.

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24th_Battalion_(New_Zealand)
2. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_El_Alamein
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Monte_Cassino
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56059681/sydney-lanfear-williams : accessed 25 April 2022), memorial page for Pvt Sydney Lanfear Williams (19 Jan 1915–17 Mar 1944), Find A Grave: Memorial #56059681, citing Cassino War Cemetery, Cassino, Provincia di Frosinone, Lazio, Italy ; Maintained by lindylou631 (contributor 49254308)

• NZ BDM Birth Records Online: Registration No: 1915/3134 | Family Name: Williams | Given Name(s): Sydney Lanfear | Parents: Louisa Harriett & Joseph Nicholas | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search

• NZ BDM Marriage Records Online: Registration No: 1941/12005 | Bride's Family Name: Haddon | Bride's Given Name(s): Helen Cathrine | Groom's Family Name: Williams | Groom's Given Name(s): Sydney Lanfear | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search

• NZ BDM Death Records Online: Registration No: 1945/56767 | Family Name: Williams | Given Name(s): Sydney Lanfear | Age at Death: 29Y | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search

• Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph [[1]]

• http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2613450/WILLIAMS,%20SYDNEY%20LANFEAR

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Battle_of_Monte_Cassino_order_of_battle_February_1944

• http://www.wikisicily.com/cassino/scheda_cassino.php?id=3885&plot=VI&fnd=C.%2021

Research Notes

"The struggle for Cassino in early 1944 was one of the most brutal and costly battles involving New Zealand forces in the Second World War. For the New Zealand Division, this German strongpoint southeast of Rome would prove the most tragically elusive prize of the Italian campaign. The Germans' success in resisting the Allied offensive along the Gustav Line prompted the Allies to switch their focus to the Liri Valley, which led directly to Rome. However, the entrance to the valley was just over ten kilometres wide and was overlooked by the 500-metre-high Monte Cassino, topped by an historic Benedictine monastery."

"After another heavy bombardment, New Zealand forces fought their way into the devastated town from the north on 15 March. Once again, the Germans put up tenacious resistance from hidden positions in the maze of rubble that was once Cassino. In creating ideal positions for enemy snipers and hindering access for New Zealand’s armoured support, the bombing of the town had proved to be counter-productive. After eight days of fighting from one shattered building to the next, Freyberg decided the cost was proving too high and he ordered his troops to stop their attack. Shortly afterwards in early April, the New Zealand Division withdrew from the Cassino area, having suffered 343 deaths and over 600 wounded."