Identify his regiment

[scrimnet]

And looking closely at his buttons...He's a Coldstreamer

[Thornham44]

As he came from Lancashire could the cap badge be of the Cheshire Regiment?

[Parmesan]

that's what I thought Thornham  (reply No 5)

the two badges are similar shape

Cheshire first then Coldstream Guards

[scrimnet]

As he came from Lancashire could the cap badge be of the Cheshire Regiment?

Although it was common in WW1 for chaps to join a local Regt, it was not always thus...

The epaulettes certainly ensure he is not a Cheshire...

[Thornham44]

Thanks for all the info Scrimnet.

I will bow to your superior knowledge & go with the Coldstream Guards theory.
I have found a record of a Harry Williams from the Coldstreams' in late 1915. Maybe by the time his sweetheart heard of is death it could well have been 1916, and over the years it has been thought that he died on the Somme.
(checked the CWGC for 1916 but found no record of a private Williams that matched our man)

Thanks again, Thornham 44

[scrimnet]

The Guards are unique, in that they retained records for their soldiers!

It would be worth a punt if you have DOB etc to contact the Regt HQ at Wellington Bks

http://www.theguardsmuseum.com/family.htm