Gomer was employed as a coal miner from around the age of 13, working at Ynysfeio coalmine. He became a member of Carmel Chapel (Penyrhenglyn) and took part in the famous choir of M.O.Jones. He met his wife Gwendoline Yorath at Carmel, they married in September 1908 and set up a home at 30 Mt Libanus. Regretfully Gwendoline died on the 7th April 1909, aged 22, of TB, she was buried at Treochy on the 12th. Gomer might have contracted TB himself as he was in Mount Vernon Hospital Hampstead, London (treatment rest, fresh air and limited activity) during the period August to October 1909 or earlier. A postcard dated 17th October 1909 states that he hoped to be home soon. The 1911 Census places Gomer living at 4 Eleanor Street, Treherbert, with his in-laws, John & Gwen Yorath (and their son William (a colliery surface worker) & adopted daughter Mary Gwen). By 1914, he had joined the RAMC and was stationed at Pembroke Dock Military Hospital. On the 12th November 1915, he wrote a letter from the 29th General Hospital, Finsbury stating “Left Aldershot, embarking today at London Dock. Been busy loading a train with 80 vans. A 1040 bedded hospital with Marques being taken with us. Looks like a big affair”. He entered the war in the Balkans on the 7th December 1915. On the 15th February 1916, in a letter from Salonika, Greece, he informs “weather a little better after awful weather. Up on the hillside, with beautiful sunsets. Can see the Battleships and Hospital ships on the water. Cooking with wood, as run out of charcoal.” By August the same year, Gomer was recovering from an operation for a very bad case of haemorrhoid in St Elmo Hospital, Malta. In another letter home, dated 23rd August 1916, he indicates that he had been giving a choice of having an operation in Malta or waiting until arrival in UK and chose not to prolong the pain. After his operation, Gomer was sent to serve with the 36th Stationery Hospital, Egyptian Expeditionary Forces, alongside the Bitter Lakes (Suez Canal). He advised in a letter dated 10th February 1917 that the Journey from Salonika had taken 19 days by sea and then (after a night in Alexandria) 11 ½ hours by train. He explained that the wounded from Mesopotamia and also Turkish prisoners were brought to this hospital. On the 24th December 1918, he received a letter of commendation from Captain Perry, certifying that Comer had worked at the Command Depot, Mustapha and Sidi Bishi as a Masseur for the past 10 months, and that previous to this he had trained and worked at 21st General Hospital, Alexandria. At that time he was working in the Officers Massage Dept and also charge of the Electrical Equipment. Gomer died in Egypt of Pneumonia. He was the son of David & Margaret (Edwards) Williams and brother to John (19.9.1867), Gwilym (19.8.1869), James (2.1.1875), Benjamin (3.12.1876), Richard (9.5.1879), Mary (11.1.1881), Ivor (11.09.1885), and Daniel Isaac (19.6.1888). [Information and portrait photograph taken from research compiled and kindly provided by Alan Brigham]