Herbert Coombs WILLIAMS

Herbert Coombs WILLIAMS Update Details

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WILLIAMS, Herbert Coombs

Service Number:	539
Enlisted:	22 August 1914, An original member of E Company 9th Bn
Last Rank:	Corporal
Last Unit:	49th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Hornsey, Middlesex, England, 1885
Home Town:	Doolbi, Bundaberg, Queensland
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Sugar mill hand
Died:	Died of wounds, France, 4 September 1916
Cemetery:	Contay British Cemetery, Contay, France Plot I, Row B, Grave No. 5.
Memorials:	Childers Doolbi & Horton Honour Board, Childers Past Scholars of Doolbi Primary School Honour Roll, Childers Residents of Horton and Doolbi War Memorial

World War 1 Service

22 Aug 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 539, 9th Infantry Battalion, An original member of E Company 9th Bn
24 Sep 1914:	Involvement Private, 539, 9th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Omrah embarkation_ship_number: A5 public_note: ''
24 Sep 1914:	Embarked Private, 539, 9th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Omrah, Brisbane
29 Feb 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 49th Infantry Battalion
24 Aug 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 49th Infantry Battalion

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Herbert Coombs Williams came to Australia in around 1908 with his brother Wilfred Percy Williams. They both enlisted at Maryborough in Queensland during August 1914, only weeks after war was declared.

Herbert was working at the Doolbi sugar mill, near Bundaberg, when he enlisted. He stated that he had spent six years in the Middlesex Regiment, and was discharged on leaving England for Australia.

Herbert served at the Anzac landing with the 9th Battalion, with his brother, and was wounded in action on that first day. Evacuated to Egypt, he returned to Gallipoli on 2 June 1915. He was again evacuated sick in late October 1915.

Herbert and his brother were both transferred to the 49th Battalion during the doubling of the AIF in early 1916. Herbert was promoted to Corporal about a week before the 49th Battalion was involved in the attack on Mouquet Farm on 3 September 1916 by three Australian battalions.

He was mortally wounded in the chest and throat by gunfire and although he made it the 49th Casualty Clearing Station he died of wounds the next day.

They were the sons of Harold and Alice Williams who were still living in London, England.

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