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Australia

Australia, Birth Index, 1788-1922

Name - Alfred Joseph Henry Williams
Birth Date - 4 Jul 1897
Birth Place - Exeter
Registration Place - Port Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Father - Edmund Williams
Mother - Elizabeth Lambert
Page number - 300
Volume Number - 606

Alfred was the son of Edmund WILLIAMS & Elizabeth Ann LAMBERT and was born on the 4th of July 1897 at 20 John Street, Davington, Semaphore, SA.

His parents were married on the 30th of August 1884 at the residence of W Powell in Staplehurst, near Glanville, SA.

His father was the son of Edward WILLIAMS & Margaret THOMAS and born on the 6th of April 1861 in Kooringa, SA.
His mother was the daughter of Samuel Charles LAMBERT & Ann MARRA and was born on the 25th of May 1863 in Salisbury, SA.

Alfred was the sixth child born into this family of 7 children.

His father was a smelter and Alfred grew up at 20 John Street, Davington, Semaphore.

Alfred was educated at Semaphore and joined the 77th Senior Cadets (Semaphore) and on completion of his schooling he gained employment as a Tinsmith.

He then joined the 77th Battalion in Pt Adelaide.
On the 30th of August 1915 his elder brother; Edward William Edmund enlisted into the 1st AIF (550). He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A67 Orsova on the 10th of November 1915 and went on to serve with the Siege Artillery Brigade.

At the age of 18, Alfred enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 24th of January 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 610 and posted to E Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Exhibition Camp.

Alfred was then transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion on the 16th of February and on the 7th of March he was posted to the newly raised 43rd Battalion, C Company at Morphettville Camp.

Alfred gained four days leave, known as "long leave," on the 19th and this embraced the Easter Holidays, this being the last furlough granted prior to the Battalion's departure from Australia. The free weekends still being maintained and to those living within thirty miles of Adelaide, when desired, was extended to Monday morning.

Alfred embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916 and Alfred now realised that this was the commencement of the long, long trail, the end of which none could foretell.

He disembarked in France on the 20th of July and then re embarked to England for further training at Lark Hill.
After a few months training he proceeded to France on the 25th of November and served on the Western Front.

Alfred was wounded in France and evacuated to England where he recovered and returned to France.

On the 15th of November 1916 his brother Edward was admitted into a hospital in France and on the day of his discharge a wounded Officer was brought into the hospital. After consultation, the doctors called for volunteers from men who were willing to give some of their blood to save the Officer.
Edward and another man volunteered and their offer was accepted.
The operation was performed almost immediately by the King's physician and
Edward was told after recovery that just one or two pints of blood had been taken from his body, however, on the 24th of November he was invalided to England on board HS Dieppe with Anaemia and admitted into the Shorncliffe Military Hospital.

Alfred spent 1917 bogged in bloody trench warfare in Flanders and in June he fought in Messines and then in October he fought in the Third Battle of Ypres.

On the day of his 21st Birthday he fought in the Battle of Hamel and later he suffered a badly sprained ankle and was evacuated to England where he was when the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918.

He never returned to France and embarked from England on the 18th of December 1918 on board HT Aeneas.
He spent Christmas 1918 on board the transport before disembarking in Melbourne on the 13th of February and entraining to Adelaide the following day.
He was then admitted into the 15th Australian General Hospital at Torrens Park for 2 weeks.
Alfred was discharged from the AIF on the 6th of April 1919.

He returned home to his parents, gained employment as a labourer with Shell Oil & Co at Birkenhead and joined the Pt Adelaide RLS Sub-Branch.

On the 6th of June 1933 Alfred committed suicide by hanging himself with a rope from the rafters in a shed at his parent’s home at 20 John Street, Davington, Semaphore.
His body was found by one of his nephews and a short step ladder was lying on the ground below his body.

Alfred parents buried him the following day in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section CX, Drive A, Path 15, Site Number 89N.

Alfred’s mother died the following year on the 18th of March 1934 at her home and was buried the following day in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section CX, Drive A, Path 15, Site Number 89N, with Alfred.

Alfred’s father remained in the family home and died there on the 22nd of April 1942 and was buried in the Cheltenham Cemetery; Section CX, Drive A, Path 15, Site Number 89N, with Alfred and Elizabeth.

Military

At the age of 18, Alfred enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 24th of January 1916 in Adelaide and allotted the service number 610 and posted to E Company, 2nd Depot Battalion in Exhibition Camp.
He listed his mother, of 20 John Street, Davington, Semaphore, as his next of kin.

Alfred was then transferred to the 1st Depot Battalion on the 16th of February and on the 7th of March he was posted to the newly raised 43rd Battalion, C Company at Morphettville Camp.

The Battalion consisted of men who had but recently enlisted, and were practically raw recruits, most of whom had joined up in January and February.

Early in April musketry was commenced throughout the Battalion with each section forming a separate squad and undergoing ten days progressive instruction in the art of handling the rifle, the course being completed by the firing of an application and grouping practice on the miniature range in the dry bed of the Sturt River.
An open range was prepared in the sand hills between Glenelg and Henley, where for two days portions of the Battalion were engaged with the service rifle; but the working of these targets proved so slow and tedious that arrangements were made to secure the use of the butts at Port Adelaide, special trains conveying the troops to and from this place. Two complete days firing was given to each company, during which grouping, application, snap shooting, and rapid practices at 100, 200, and 300 yards were completed.
Alfred gained four days leave, known as "long leave," on the 19th and this embraced the Easter Holidays, this being the last furlough granted prior to the Battalion's departure from Australia. The free weekends still being maintained and to those living within thirty miles of Adelaide, when desired, was extended to Monday morning.

The Battalion attended a number of functions and ceremonies, chief among which were the presentation of colours at Glenelg, the Military Tattoo on the Jubilee Oval, and the farewell dinner provided in the Exhibition Building by the Cheer-up Society; while occasional trips to the theatre were arranged, special trains usually being provided for the conveyance of the Unit to and from Morphettville. A certain amount of amusement was supplied within the camp on several occasions by concert parties.

During the whole period of training, equipment and clothing were gradually issued and they were fitted out for departure, signing for every article received and having numerous inspections to ascertain what shortages existed. The health of the men also received continuous attention, vaccination and two inoculations being administered in the early days, while dental inspections and subsequent treatment rectified any defects of the mouth.

The first week of June was spent in final preparations to embark on the 9th of June, the quartermasters and clerical departments being the most busily engaged. A final pay was drawn and as much leave as possible granted and by the 8th all preparations for embarkation had been completed, and the transport section had left for the Outer Harbour.

Dawn of June 9th was breaking behind the Mount Lofty Ranges when reveille sounded, rousing the whole camp to the activities of final preparations for departure, including the handing in of camp equipment and stores.

At 9.40 a.m. the first train, bearing Headquarters and A and B Companies, left Morphettville Station followed half-an-hour later by a second train with the remainder of the Battalion and Alfred.
On reaching Port Adelaide the train proceeded by the old route down St. Vincent Street, where a large and enthusiastic crowd assembled to bid farewell to the unit. An hour later the Outer Harbour was reached and there followed a rapid embarkation on board their transport, HMAT A19 Afric.

Alfred embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric at 2pm on the 9th of June 1916 and Alfred now realised that this was the commencement of the long, long trail, the end of which none could foretell.

The journey through The Bight was cold and rough, causing sickness to 70 per cent of the men. Land was first sighted at daybreak of the 13th of June and after passing through King George Sound they anchored in Albany Harbour at 11.30 am, when coaling immediately commenced.
The next day the boat drew alongside the wharf, and all were allowed ashore for a few hours.
At noon the same day the journey was resumed and soon the shores of Alfred’s homeland receded from view.
That night it was learnt that the next port of call would be Colombo. As the result of a long period of calm weather that followed the departure from Albany, it was possible to conduct training, consisting of musketry, physical exercises, bayonet fighting, and boat drill, limited in extent by the small area of deck space available.

As the tropics were approached, permission to sleep on deck was granted, and a large majority, including Alfred availed themselves of the privilege. By day a minimum amount of clothing was worn, the heavier uniform being abandoned for the lighter and more comfortable suit of dungarees.

Early on the morning of June 26th the island of Ceylon was sighted and by 10 a.m. the transport anchored in the harbour of Colombo. Coal barges were soon drawn along side the boat and coaling operations, conducted by the natives, commenced.
That afternoon they were taken ashore on lighters and marched to the military barracks in Colombo. There a wet canteen was placed at the disposal of the troops and native vendors of views, fruit, etc., offered their goods. As this was the first opportunity for some weeks of purchasing articles from other than the ship's canteen a brisk business resulted.

The following day the journey resumed at 3.45 p.m.
The voyage to Suez differed very little from the previous fortnight, except that during the four days in the Red Sea extreme heat was experienced, causing exhaustion to several of the stokers, whose work was undertaken for two days by volunteers from the troops.
By noon of July 11th Suez was reached and all preparations for disembarkation were completed.

Orders were, however, received from the military authorities that the journey was to be continued through the Mediterranean and at 4 pm an entrance was made into the Canal, the interesting surroundings of which attracted attention for sixteen hours. Along the bank were encamped Australian and English troops, who formed a portion of the Canal Garrison. An opportunity to converse with some of these was afforded by the boat being delayed for an hour at Ismalia.

By 8.30 am on the 12th the Canal was cleared and entry made into Port Said, where a transport conveying English troops southward was passed. Natives were again employed in coaling, which caused much inconvenience to those on board, as no leave ashore was granted. Numerous hawkers in small dinghies visited the boat, but not being allowed on deck were obliged to transact their sales by means of rope and basket.
Here an A 4.7 naval gun was mounted aft and manned by Royal Navy gunners and on departure at 2pm on the 13th, H.M. destroyer "Telmar," which had seen service with the Australians on Gallipoli, acted as their escort. These protective measures against submarines were augmented by the pre cautions of constant changes of course, screening of lights, and increase of sentries, whose duty was the outlook for enemy craft.

On passing Malta, the "Telmar" was relieved by a larger destroyer, but before departing semaphored "Australians, good-bye and good luck," on receipt of which cheers were interchanged between transport and escort. Daily routine on board continued until Marseilles was approached on the evening of July 19th, when at 10 pm the pilot was taken aboard, but the harbour was not entered until eight o'clock the next morning. This ended a six weeks successful journey on the "Afric".

At 3 pm on July 20th they disembarked and moved to Arran-Point Station, where they immediately entrained and at 5.35 pm left for Havre.
The journey through Southern France was most interesting, new types of villages, cultivation, and railway organisation being introduced. The scenery, especially that of the Rhone Valley, was superb, and the bright mid summer day showed the surroundings at their best.

A halt was made near Avignon, where hot tea and rations were issued, and on resumption of the journey the troops quickly settled down for the night. At 8 am on the 21st the train passed through Lyons, and at 3.45 pm Dijon was reached, and the French Red Cross workers served tea and cake to the Battalion.
Breakfast next morning was partaken of thirteen miles from Paris, Juvisy, from which, after a halt of two hours, the journey continued through Versailles, along the Seine Valley to Nantes, where a break was made for another meal, thence to Rouen and Havre.
Here the Battalion detrained and marched to a Rest Camp, where most of the men spent a cold night on cobbles. The following afternoon embarkation for England took place, and at dusk the Channel transport commenced its six-hour journey, reaching Southampton at daybreak and they disembarked at 7.30 am.
After two hours waiting on the wharf they were entrained for Amesbury Station on Salisbury Plain, where the Battalion detrained. An hour later Lark Hill was reached and the whole afternoon devoted to settling down in No.12 Camp. This was the training area for the 43rd Battalion prior to its departure for the front.
The first few days were spent in settling down in this new camp, which was one of about fifty of similar design located at Lark Hill, most of which were so fitted as to accommodate a complete battalion.

They spent the next few months here in training and towards the end of November, when they had been fully equipped for overseas, a divisional march, covering a distance of eighteen miles, was accomplished, the full issue of clothing and equipment, less blankets, being carried, the day proving most strenuous on account of the oppressive heat.

During the first three weeks of November final preparations and issue of equipment for the trip overseas were completed, and the dates of departure of the Division were expected to cover the last week of November 1916, the 43rd Battalion eventually sailing on the 25th, prior to which the camp was thoroughly cleaned and the bulk of stores returned.

The early morning of November 25th was a repetition of June 9th. For the purpose of the move the Battalion was divided into three parties, leaving Lark Hill Camp in time to entrain at Amesbury Station by 7.15am. The weight of equipment carried by each man was far in excess of that borne on any previous march, as in addition to full marching order, two blankets, 150 rounds of ammunition, with steel and gas helmets, made a burden in all cases exceeding 80 lb.
At dusk the trip across the Channel commenced and a heavy sea was experienced, causing sea sickness to many on board, while a bleak wind with frequent showers of hail made the entry into the harbour at Le Havre and the period of waiting intensely cold.

Disembarkation and unloading commenced at 11 am and during the afternoon there followed the memorable route march to No.1 Rest Camp, situated on a hill about three miles from the wharf. Here they remained for the night, leaving at 6.30am next morning for the railway yards, where a troop train, consisting chiefly of cattle trucks, was waiting, and at 11.30am they left for Bailleul.
The journey, via Rouen, Abbeville, Boulogne, Calais, and St. Omer, occupied thirty hours, halts being made en route for the issue of rations and hot drinks.
Detraining was completed before dark, but by the time the unit moved from the station night had set in. For the march to billets, packs and blankets were carried by motor lorry. Locating these billets caused great difficulty, owing to the lack of information and absence of guides, and it was not until after 10 pm that they were settled for the night.

On December 23rd, in a high wind and through heavy rain, a march to new billets in Armentieres was carried out. They, with the 44th Battalion, formed support to the 41st and 42nd Battalions. Christmas Day 1916 was celebrated in the morning with working parties to the line and in the evening by a dinner, extra supplies being obtained through Comforts and Regimental Funds.

They spent February 1917 in and out of the front line at Armentieres and whilst in billets the raiding school continued training in bayonet fighting, physical exercises, patrolling, study of aeroplane photographs and practice of raiding formations on dummy trenches.
On the 11th of March Alfred was detached to the 3rd Division School of Bombing and Signalling Training for 7 days and when he rejoined his Battalion they were at La Bezet in the line.

They remained here, rotating in and out of the trenches until the 6th of April when they were relieved and moved into billets at Oosthove Farm, just north of Armentieres.
Here they were detailed to working parties for the 9th Field Company Engineers until they relieved the 42nd Battalion at Ploegsteert and St Yves on the 20th of April.
It was here on ANZAC Day 1917 that Alfred suffered a Gun Shot Wound to his right thigh and left buttock and was admitted into the 9th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Trois Arbres, near Bailleul.
The following day he was transferred by Ambulance Train and admitted into the 13th Canadian General Hospital in Boulogne on the 27th.
After 8 days here he was evacuated to England from Calais on board HS Pieter de Coninck and admitted into the Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital in Suffolk Hall, Cheltenham.

Alfred remained here receiving treatment until the 10th of July, when he was discharged to 2 weeks furlo and then reported to No.3 Command Depot in Hurdcott on the 25th of July and medically classified B1A1 (Fit for light duty only - 4 weeks).
Seven days later, he was reclassified as B1A2 (Fit for overseas training camp in three to four weeks) and then on the 20th of August he was reclassified to B1A4 (Fit for overseas training camp when passed dentally fit).

After 3 days Alfred was reclassified A3 (Fit for overseas training camp, to which transferred for hardening, prior to rejoining unit overseas) and on the 31st of August he was posted to the Overseas Training Brigade in Perham Downs.
He spent the next 3 weeks here before proceeding back to France on the 19th of September and marched into the 3rd ADBD (Australian Division Base Depot) in Rouelles, before marching out to join his Battalion on the 18th of September.

Alfred rejoined his Battalion on the 8th of October at Ypres Salient where they in reserve in front of Sunken Road.
They were relieved on the 21st of October and marched to a camp at Vlamertinghe and they following day they were moved by motor bus to Arvoult and commenced training.
They remained here until the 12th of November when they moved to Steenbecque and then onto Canteen Corner Camp and became the reserve Battalion for the Brigade who were holding the line from the River Lys to the River Douve.
Here they commenced further training and were engaged in working parties, digging and laying a water pipe between Nieppe and Hill 63.

On the 15th of December they marched into new billets at Locre where they spent 4 days before moving to De Seule and then to Erquinghem where they were tasked with working parties.
They spent Christmas 1917 here before moving into the front line at Bois-Grenier the following day.
On the 3rd of January they were relieved and moved to Waterlands Camp before moving into billets at Locre for training in the snow.

On the 27th of January they marched though Neuve-Eglise to Romarin Camp and then onto Le Rossignol Camp for training.
They left here on the 5th of February, marched to Oosthove Farm and then entrained to Delennelle Farm and into the trenches at Le Bizet.
They were relieved on the 13th of February and moved to Le Rossignol Camp where they commenced training and were engaged in working parties to the front line.

Two days later Alfred suffered an accidental injury and sprained his right ankle when involved with a night working party.
They were crossing open country behind the lines at 11pm when, whilst crossing the light railway Alfred’s foot slipped from under him. He was able to walk assisted for about 500 yards but then a stretcher was called for and he was placed on the train.

The ground was slippery, covered in loose material and loose iron rails lay about 6 inches above the ground.
Four days later his ankle was still very swollen and he was admitted into the 10th Australian Field Ambulance.
The following day he was transferred to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at site called "Tasmania" near Hazebrouck.

Alfred spent 8 days here before he was fit enough and he rejoined his Battalion on the 28th, back in the trenches at Le Bizet.
They spent much of 1918 fighting in the Somme Valley and in April they helped stop the German Spring offensive at Villers-Bretonneux and on the 27th of April Alfred was appointed Lance Corporal.

By the end of June they had moved to Hill 86 and were then relieved on the 27th, moving to the Allonville area the next day to consolidate for the Battle of Hamel.

As the Brigade had not previously worked with tanks, practices were given in advancing with them at their training ground near Vaux en Amenois, where they gained an insight into their tactics and methods of advance.
They then moved into the Hamel area and at two minutes past three on the morning of Alfred’s 21st Birthday, on the 4th of July, light harassing fire was opened, with the object of assisting the aircraft in drowning the noise of approaching tanks, and eight minutes later an intense barrage fire opened, under cover of which the attack commenced.
In two hours, all objectives were obtained, and 1,400 German prisoners were captured, as well as many weapons.
On this same day Alfred was appointed Temporary Corporal.

In August and September they helped drive the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line and by the 1st of September they were located in the line at Clery.
On the 2nd of September they attacked and captured Scutari Trench before being relieved and moved to a rest area in the valley.
The following day Alfred suffered a sprained left ankle and was admitted into the 9th Australian Field Ambulance and then transferred to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station at Vecquemont.
He was then transferred to the 5th General Hospital in Rouen on the 5th of September and the following day he was evacuated to England and admitted into the Lord Derby War Hospital in Warrington.

Alfred remained here until the 3rd of October when he was discharged to 2 weeks furlo and then reported to No. 4 Command Depot, Livermore Camp, Hurdcott.
Alfred was still here when the Armistice was signed on the 11th of November 1918.
On the 24th of November he attended a PT & BF (Physical Training and Bayonet Fighting) School in Devonport.

Alfred embarked from England on the 18th of December 1918 on board HT Aeneas.
He spent Christmas 1918 on board the transport before disembarking in Melbourne on the 13th of February and entraining to Adelaide the following day.

He was then admitted into the 15th Australian General Hospital at Torrens Park for 2 weeks.
Alfred was discharged from the AIF on the 6th of April 1919 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.