William Henry James (Harry/Henry) WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS, William Henry James

Service Number: 734
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Sapper
Last Unit: Mining Corps
Born: Not yet discovered
Home Town: Not yet discovered
Schooling: Bendigo School of Mines, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Mine Managers Assistant
Memorials: Avoca Soldiers Memorial, Homebush Honor Roll
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World War 1 Service

20 Feb 1916: Involvement Sapper, 734, Mining Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: ''
20 Feb 1916: Involvement Sapper, 734, Mining Corps, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: ''
20 Feb 1916: Embarked Sapper, 734, Mining Corps, HMAT Ulysses, Sydney
20 Feb 1916: Embarked Sapper, 734, Mining Corps, HMAT Ulysses, Sydney

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Biography contributed by Larna Malone

Known as ‘Harry’, William Henry James Williams was born near the town of Stratford, Vic., the son of William Henry James Williams of Homebush, via Avoca.    ‘Harry’ had been a student at the Bendigo School of Mines and later worked as a Mine Managers Assistant.  

He attested for service at Bendigo on 13.7.15 aged 24 years and 4 months.    He attested for a second time at Ascot Vale on 26.7.15.   On this occasion he stated his age to be 25 years and 8 months.     He was 5’ 7” in height, and had a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair. 

On 29.10.15 he was appointed to No 2 Company Mining Corps and allocated Service No. 734.   He was farewelled from Bendigo on 5.12.15.

“Friends of Sapper Harry Williams and members of St John’s Presbyterian Church and school met at “Rupertsleigh”, Moran-st., to bid farewell to him prior to his sailing with the miners’ corps for the front.   A pleasant evening was spent with parlor games and musical and other items.   In presenting Sapper Williams with a pocket wallet, Mr W Thomas expressed his admiration for the soldier.   Mr Thomas’s remarks were supported by Messrs B. Taylor, W. Blake and C. Burns, all of whom wished the soldier a safe return.   Sapper Williams made a modest reply.   A vote of thanks was accorded the host and hostess Mr and Miss M’Williams.”     [Bendigo Advertiser.  6 December 1915]

He arrived at the Mining Corps, Casula, NSW, on 11.12.15 and embarked for overseas from Sydney on 20.2.16.   He disembarked in France on 5.5.16.   He was wounded on 30.11.16, sustaining a Gun Shot Wound to his left ear.   He was taken to the New Zealand Dressing Station and discharged to the reinforcements camp on 10.12.16.   He re-joined his unit on 11.12.16.

The Mining Corps was in the process of re-organization, and was split into three companies.   On 29.12.16 ‘Harry’ was transferred to the newly formed 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company.     On 12.1.17 he was attached to 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company, re-joining his unit on 4.2.17.

On 23.2.17 he was admitted to hospital with hiccups and was discharged to his unit on 17.3.17.   He was granted Leave to England from 11.9.18 – 28.9.18.

He spent the first months of 1919 in England and embarked for Australia on 31.3.19.  

 

"The Men Listed on the Roll of Honor, St John's Presbyterian Church, Bendigo": Larna Malone

 

 

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