Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

GEORGE JOSEPH WILLIAMS
George Joseph Williams was born in Sydney on 21 June 1895.
His parent’s names were William and Catherine Williams.
George grew up in Sydney where after leaving school worked as a dairy hand on a farm. On 3 September 1914 he enlisted in the Australian Army Infantry, 1st Battalion. Soldier number was 590. He was 19 years old.
After completing 2 months training he and his battalion departed by ship for Egypt, arriving on 3 December 1914. The battalion took part in the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli 25 April 1915 as part of the 2nd and 3rd landing.
He survived the landing and fought at Gallipoli for 3 months until he was injured and transferred to hospital on 3 June. Unable to be returned to his battalion, on 14 August 1915 he was discharged to Australia arriving by ship in December 1915.
Due to his injuries which were deafness from the bombing and cannon fire and also sickness he was discharged from the army as medically unfit on 15 March 1916.
He stayed in Australia recovering from his injuries until on 6 September 1916 at the age of 21 and 3 months re enlisted joining the 1st Battalion, 23rd Re enforcement Division, soldier number 7103. Although he married while in Australia and had a son Cecil Williams he appeared to want to be with his battalion to win the war in Europe.
He sailed for Egypt on 9 November 1916.
He served in France in 1917 where his battalion fought against the german army, principally the Somme Valley in France. George’s battalion was involved in a battle on Polygon Road in the Ypres sector. On the morning after the positions had been captured, on Friday 21 September 1917 he was killed. The Australian Red Cross Society Wounded and Missing Bureau were able to obtain seven eye witnesses to the event. It was reported that about midday while being briefed by an officer along with 13 others soldiers in a sand bag dugout about 3000 yards behind the line, an aeroplane dropped a bomb on the shelter. 4 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded including George. He received serious abdominal wounds and was taken to a dressing station where he died at 5:00pm. He was buried the next day. He was 22 and 3 months old.
He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetary in Belgium.
George Williams was awarded three medals.
The British War Medal 1914 – 1918. The Victory Medal 1914 – 1918 and the 1914 – 1918 Star. Another medal was issued after the war to British Servicemen and later to Australian Servicemen who fought at Gallipoli and were still alive years later. George did not receive this medal as he did not survive the war. (A duplicate was made)