Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Sarah Victoria Williamsom of 'Kirkcaldie', Lenthall Street, Kensington, NSW

3 May 1917 - wounded gunshot wound to the right arm

18 October 1917 - embarked for Australia on board HT Beltana with severe shell wound to the left arm and gassed

His brother 682 Private Basil Bruce Williamson, 18th Battalion was killed in action 22 August 1915.  During the attack on Hill 60 he suffered bomb wounds to the head, and died on the beach in the 4th Field Ambulance. He was only 20 years old. Basil had previously embarked with D Company, Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (Tropical Unit), to New Guinea, and returned from Rabaul in February 1915, and reenlisted the same month and embarked for Gallipoli in June 1915. His father and two brothers and his brother in law served in the AIF. 

His father, 683 Company Quartermaster Sergeant William Wallace Williamson, enlisted in the 18th battalion the same day as his son, 25 March 1915. Both Basil and William were posted to B Company in the 18th Battalion. William was a large man, almost six foot tall and weighing 222 pounds or almost 16 stone, and was over 44 years of age, the father of at least five children. William arrived on Gallipoli with his son and the rest of the 18th Battalion on the 20 August 1915. The battalion had not been ashore a day when it was committed to the last operation of the August Offensive – the attack on Hill 60, and his son Basil was killed only 2 days later. William was promoted to Company Quartermaster Sergeant the same day, after Company Quartermaster Sergeant Wallace Hicks was also killed in action on the 22 August 1915.  Basil was seen to be mortally wounded by his devastated father who later buried him; however, today his body's exact location is unknown.

William the father wrote home to his wife shortly after,

“cannot write any more on account of censor
My dearest tic
Just a line to tell you our dear boy Basil met his end while with me in a Charge he received a ball to the head I had just time to get his head up he looked at me smiled & was gone I took him out of the firing line & had him buried by the Church of England Chaplin by 3 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon on the same day Sunday 22nd By the time you get this you will have seen the list I am trying to effect a Transfer under Capt Miline(?) which will bring me close to Wall and George. I am keeping well and have come out so far all right Do not pine my dear wife I am more than glad I came & was here with him & so will you be when I am able to tell you all I need not tell you how our loss has affected me, but we must be thankful if two of our three comes out Trusting all is well at home With love and kisses for all Your loving Husband
W Williamson 683” 

After the evacuation of Anzac he was admitted to hospital in Egypt suffering from acute nephritis, and was returned to Australia in April 1916. He had served throughout the very cold weather during November on Gallipoli and the doctor considered that exposure to the severe climate was responsible for onset of the disease. He died from chronic nephritis in the Randwick Hospital on the 3rd July, 1916. His death certificate states that he was 50 years old.

Another son 233 Private Wallace Albert Williamson (Wal), 1st Field Ambulance, served at the Landing on Anzac cove, was evacuated to England with dysentery in September 1915 and returned to Australia in August 1916. This occurred shortly after his father’s death in Australia and in his file his discharge reason is noted as “mother’s request”.

6157 Private Ronald (Roy W.) Williamson, 24th Battalion, enlisted in August 1916, and joined the 24th battalion in France on the 30th April 1917. Only three days later he was wounded in action at Bullecourt. He was gassed and suffered severe gunshot wounds to his right arm and hand, and was evacuated to England. As a consequence of his wounds he was returned to Australia in October 1917. He was discharged in Sydney in March 1918, before enlisting again in July 1918, embarking for overseas on 2nd November 1918 before the troopship was recalled due to the end of the war.

Ronald died on the 21 January 1920, at the age of 22, the third of the Williamson family to give their lives in the Great War. He is buried in Waverly cemetery in Sydney, and the Cemetery Record states death due to war service. His name is on the Roll of Honour in Canberra. The mother and widow, Sarah Williamson lived in Kensington Sydney NSW.