Ray Williams was born on 15 July 1924 to David and Alice Williams of 10 Oswald Row Trimdon Grange and was baptised 20 July 1924.  

 

David Williams (aged 22) and Alice Henderson (aged 20) had married in 1910 and by the time of the census taken in 1911 they were living at 17 Surgery Row, Trimdon Grange, County Durham, with David working as a Coal Hewer. 

 

At time of 1911 census they also had a daughter Jane – 11 weeks old. 

 

No doubt they could rely on a helping hand with the baby from their neighbours – David’s parents Meshack and Maria lived at 16 Surgery Row, Trimdon Grange, County Durham, having moved from 10, North Plantation Row, Trimdon Village at some point in the previous ten years

 

David had been born 1889 in Trimdon Grange, County Durham whilst Alice was born in 1891 in Station Town, County Durham.

 

 Alice was the daughter of George and Jane Henderson. George was a Coal Miner (Hewer) in 1901. It is possible that he had been born in Bamburgh, Northumberland, in 1862, and had moved to Durham seeking employment in the mines, where he met Jane, who had been born in Kelloe, County Durham.

 

In 1901 both David and Alice had been living in Trimdon Village, County Durham – possibly a stone throw from each other. David lived with his parents at 10, North Plantation Row and Alice with her parents at 25, South Plantation Row. 

 

At the time of the 1901 census, the terraced house at 25, South Plantation Row was occupied by nine people.  As well as George and Jane there were Alice (then aged 10), another daughter Ann Isabella (aged 17), and two sons Thomas (aged 8) and William (aged 6). In addition there were three people with the surname Enderwick: John (aged 17 and a Joiner), a Boarder called John Enderwick who is 58 years old and a Blacksmith, and a Lillie Enderwick.

 

However the census details are riddled with errors – although the 17 year old John Enderwick would seem a prime candidate to be the husband of Ann Henderson, both are listed as being Single!

 

Of more concern, Lillie Enderwick is listed as a daughter-in-law but at the time of the census is five years old!

 

The Enderwicks had occupied 25, South Plantation Row, prior to the Hendersons. In the 1891 census the property was occupied by Thomas Enderwick (35) – a Blacksmith – and his wife Jane 29).  

 

David was the son of Meshack Williams (the name is spelt differently in various census returns: Meshec in 1891, Meshach in 1901 and Meshack in 1911). 

 

Meshack was a Coal Miner who originally came from Holywell in Wales but by 1891 was living at 10, North Plantation Row, Trimdon, Trimdon Colliery in County Durham with his wife Maria (Maria also appears differently in various census returns: Hannah M in 1891, Minnie Maria in 1901 and Maria in 1911. 

 

Maria had most likely been born in Kelloe, County Durham in 1856, although the 1901 census records her as being born in East Hetton, County Durham.   Meshack and Maria had married in 1879 (based on statement in 1911 census that they had been married 32 years) 

 

At time of 1891 census - Meshack and Maria had six children: Elizabeth born in 1881, Robert born in 1883, Mary born in 1884 Scholar, William born in 1886, David born in 1888 and Mechec born in 1890 (that’s six children born in nine years). 

 

By time of 1901 census Meshack now 47 was a Coal Miner (Shifter) and he and his wife had two more children: Joseph born in 1892 and Sarah born in 1896 (when Minnie was 40). 

 

According to 1891 census all children at that time had been born in Trimdon Grange but according to 1901 census only Elizabeth was born there, the rest being born at Trimdon. But then 1911 census says that last two Joseph and Sarah were born at Trimdon Grange! 

 

By 1901 William (aged 15) was working as a Coal Miner (Driver) and the eldest son Robert (aged 18) was working as a Coal Miner (Putter). None of the children were yet married and the whole family – two parents and eight children (aged 5 to 20) - were living at 10, North Plantation Row, Trimdon Village, County Durham, a small, terraced property. 

 

By 1911 Meshack and Maria had moved to 17, Surgery Row, Trimdon Grange.  They had three unmarried children still living with them:Meshack (21) a Coal  Miner (Shiftsman)Joseph (19) a Coal  Miner (Putter), and Sarah (15).

 

Ray was the fourth of David and Alice’s five children, one of whom did not survive childhood.   Sadie had died aged 3 years old. She had been followed by Jane (Jenny), Hetty, George and Ray. 

 

The family were strong Methodists and Ray attended Rosetree Methodist Chapel. He attended school in Trimdon Grange until 1937 when he reached the age of 14, when he went to work in the Fishburn Colliery with brother George and father David. 

 

From the first day, Ray did not like the mines and vowed to escape.  

 

An opportunity came with the outbreak of war.