Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Awarded Military Cross
'Chaplain Williams has served with this Brigade during the period February 26th 1917 until 26th June 117, when he was evacuated owing to accidental injury. During this time the Brigade was engaged in the Somme area in the vicinity of Flers and afterwards at Beaumetz and Bullecourt. Throughout the winter months he was a faithful and devoted worker in the interests of all the members of the Brigade. No matter what the weather conditions, and with a supreme contempt for shell fire, he was always present ministering to the material comforts of the men. When their work took them beyond his reach he always kept them in mind and many a time has been instrumental in sending them creature comforts when such were least expected. His courage and devotion to duty deserve special recognition.'

CHAPLAIN'S LETTER.
REV. F. P. WILLIAMS.

Mr. E. Battarbee has received an interesting and cheerful letter from Captain-Chaplain F. P. Williams, M.C., dated from Belgium on December 7th last. He says his elbow, which was broken, is now quite right again. His dugout is a sand bagged place, measuring 6 feet by 8 feet, and in it he has a bed made of wire netting stretched on a frame, on which there is no mattress, but only three blankets. He has a stove made out of an oil drum, a small table, a chair and a couple of candles, for there is no window. The whole place is roofed in with corrugated steel "camouflaged" on the outside. everything, he says, is camouflaged, in order that nothing may be seen from enemy aeroplanes. A few yards away was his kitchen, housing his staff and stores, for at the time of writing he was running a free buffet, just behind the lines for the benefit of the lads in the trenches as they come in and go out. The stores for the buffet were supplied by the Australian Comforts Fund, which is disassociated from the Y.M.C.A. Here the boys get a cup of rich hot cocoa or soup, some biscuits and cigarettes. Captain-Chaplain Williams and his staff serve about 1500 soldiers every 24 hours, and the job was no easy one. Of course, they were under fire all the time..The popular chaplain also writes : 'It would do those people out home, who subscribed to the Comforts Fund, a great deal, of good to see, not bow their money was being spent, but. how much the Comforts Fund is appreciated. These cold days and heavy frosts produce a great liking for"cocoa. I know how hugely appreciative our boys are.' I shall be here until. the Brigade, is withdrawn from the line. "It will be remembered that since writing this letter Captain-Chaplain Williams has been awarded the Military Cross.

Warrnambool Standard Thursday 07 March 1918 page 1