Boy 1st Class Ronald Williams
BOY 1ST CLASS RONALD WILLIAMS © CWGC
Ronald was the son of David and Florrie Williams, of Normanton, Yorkshire. In 1942 he was serving on the Royal Navy Destroyer HMS Maori. On 12 February the Maori was bombed while moored in Valletta Harbour. The ship was lost but all but one of the crew survived. While waiting to be taken back to England the crew were given shore leave.
On 15 February, Ronald and his comrades decided to visit the Regent Cinema in Valletta but during the afternoon showing of ‘The North-West Mounted Police’ starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald, the cinema was attacked by a German aircraft. A single 250kg bomb hit the building which was packed with servicemen and civilians. More than 40 people were killed, including Ronald and three other crew of the Maori. Ronald and his three friends were all 17 and 18 years old. They are buried together in CWGC Capuccini Naval Cemetery.
SECOND WORLD WAR CONTENTS:
COMING SOON!
Commemoration and Legacy
Artistic Responses to Conflict