John Williams - Assistant Surgeon to the Forces

John Williams was born in 1842 to parents David and Margaret Williams – the family lived at the Drim in Goodwick and farmed 250 acres.  He was the eldest of three sons. John was educated in Haverfordwest and appears to have undertaken his medical training there as he was recorded on the 1861 census as being a medical student in Haverfordwest.  Over the next five years he completed his training and in 1866 qualified as a surgeon.

British Medical Journal May 6th 1866

 Royal College of Surgeons of England -the following gentlemen having undergone the necessary examinations for the Diploma were admitted members of the College at a meeting of the Court of Examiners on April 26th   John Williams Haverfordwest

It would appear that not long after being admitted to the Royal College of Surgeons, he was then appointed as Assistant Surgeon to the Forces. The deed shown above was signed by Queen Victoria – her signature being on the top left of the document.

Sadly his career was not that long as he died in 1872 – the Cambrian newspaper reported his death in the edition of the 13th September.

4 AUGUST, AT AGRA, INDIA, STAFF ASSISTANT SURGEON, JOHN WILLIAMS, AGED 29,(65TH REGIMENT), LATE FISHGUARD.

John’s younger brother William also studied medicine and undertook his studies in London. In the 1880’s he was the Medical Superintendent of the North Wales Counties Lunatic Asylum in Denbigh before returning to Goodwick to serve for many years as the local GP.