Sons join cousins on memorial bench unveiled in Rhuddlan in memory of Royal Welsh soldier sergeant Richard Alan Williams

Sgt Richard Alan Williams, of Rhuddlan, died on October 22 2018 after being involved in a road traffic accident. He was 31-years-old.

Sgt Williams - described as a true Welsh warrior - grew up in Trelawnyd with his mum Anne, dad, Royston and brother, Clr Sgt David Thomas Williams.

The member of Delta Company who served with the 1st Battalion of The Royal Welsh was married to Rhian and had three sons - Thomas, Dafydd and Osian.

The bench has been unveiled in front of the Odyn in Rhuddlan

The bench has been installed in front of the Odyn in Rhuddlan, near to the front of the Scout hut.

Mrs Williams, Sgt Williams’s mother, said: “My son Clr Sgt David Thomas Williams and his wife Rebecca purchased the memorial bench in memory of our beloved son.

“Both David and Richard were in 1st Rhuddlan Scouts and their Dad Royston is a scout leader there who also attended the scout group.

"It means so much, his loss is still so raw. It is somewhere we can all go and remember him by - we can go there everyday, and it is there for the children.

"We are so pleased with the bench and I am so proud of my son [David].

"He was going through so much trauma and to think of his brother and to do this... I am in awe of him. They spent so many months together travelling with them being in the services, this a fitting tribute.

"It has the Royal Welsh emblem featured on it. My mother-in-law will be there every day with the Brasso looking after it."

The bench is black in colour and features the wording Sgt R A Williams - 1 Royal Welsh and below - Never Forgotten.

The funeral of Sgt Richard Alan Williams, 31, was held with full military honours. A bike escort was held

It shows a striking design of bright red poppies and two silhouette soldiers.

To mark the arrival of the memorial, Sgt Williams’s three sons sat on the bench. They were joined by Clr Sgt Williams’s daughters, Carys and Scarlett.

At the time of his death, a spokesperson from the Royal Welsh paid tribute to the father of three.

“He was a veteran of one operational deployment to Iraq, three to Afghanistan and one to Estonia,” they said.

Richard's three sons Thomas Dafydd and Osian on their father's bench

“His loss has been felt by the whole regiment.”

Sgt Williams, described as a keen motorcyclist, joined the army in 2004 into the Royal Welch Fusiliers, later amalgamating into The Royal Welsh.

His funeral took place - with full military honours - at St Margaret’s Church, Bodelwyddan, on November 9 2018.

Sgt Richard Williams died last October

A guard of honour was held and a flag was draped over Sgt Williams’s coffin. A bike escort, of about 70 bikes, was performed.

His family donated more than £1,500 to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, who helped care for Sgt Williams, after the accident.