S17836
WILLIAMS, Harold Lennox
| Service Number: | 1001 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Railway Clerk |
| Memorials: | Balhannah Old Scholars Roll of Honor, Balhannah Soldiers' Memorial Honor Roll, Oakbank Old Scholars Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement Driver, 1001, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked Driver, 1001, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 1001, 10th Infantry Battalion |
Harold Lennox Williams
Name: Harold Lennox Williams
Service Number: 1001
Place of Birth: Balhannah
Date of Birth: 3 April 1888
Place of Enlistment: Morphettville
Date of Enlistment: 2 September 1914
Age at Enlistment: 26 years 5 months
Next of Kin: Father, James William Williams
Occupation: Railway Clerk
Religion: Church of England
Rank: Sergeant
Harold left Australia with the 10th Battalion on 20 October 1914 proceeding to Mena Camp, Lemnos Island then to Alexandria on board the Ionian. They were unable to land at Gallipoli because their Officer Lieutenant Owen Smyth who was trying to arrange for the 10th to go ashore was killed while returning to their ship and, simultaneously the Triumph was sunk. This situation was detailed in a letter from Harold to the Army written in 1967 in which he argued why he should be entitled to the Gallipoli Medal.
Promotion came rapidly for Harold for on 23 May 1916 he was appointed Corporal and made a Sergeant on 28 June. He was hospitalised with trench fever for 2 months on 25 September 1917. Harold was awarded the Military Medal in the 1st Anzac Corps Routine Order No. 88 in France on 31 October. His award was featured in The London Gazette of 14 December 1917, which stated it was, “For gallantry and devotion to duty during the operations east of Ypres 20 – 23 September 1917. When his officers had been wounded he took command of his guns and led them into action with fine dash and initiative. Throughout the operations he displayed fine tact in handling his guns, and his courage and devotion to duty set a fine example to his men.” {Promulgated in Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 66, 2 May 1918.}
Harold was wounded in action in France on 14 January 1918, sustaining a gunshot wound to the right thigh. After receiving treatment at a Casualty Clearing Station he was admitted to Queen Mary Hospital Whalley, Lancashire, England. He was able to rejoin his unit after hospitalisation.
Sergeant Harold Williams returned to Australia on board the Durham, disembarking on 4 November 1918 and was discharged on 21 February.
Submitted 23 October 2023 by christopher collins