Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Mrs. M WILLIAMS, 'The Cedars' Chetwynd Grove, Merrylands, NSW

Albert originally enlisted on 1st September 1915 at Holdsworthy, NSW stating his name to be Albert WILLIAMS - 37 years 11 months of age and born at Flintshire, Buckley, England.  His next of kin was John WILLIAMS "The Cedars" Chatswood Grove, Merrylands, NSW.  He was discharged after having been convicted by civil power 18 August 1916.  He stated his occupation to be 'Printer'.

Albert Williams was born in the parish of Hawarden in town of Buckley in the county of Flintshire in Wales in the United Kingdom, to John and Margaret Williams in the late 1870’s. He came to Australia with his parents and siblings in 1882, via the ship the “Northampton”, settling in the out skirts of Sydney, in the Colony of New South Wales.

Albert completed a six-year apprenticeship as a printer with Cumberland Argus Limited (newspaper) in Parramatta, New South Wales. He also served three years and one month with the Army Medical Corps in Sydney, New South Wales.

On the 19th of August 1915, Albert joined the Australian Imperial Force for service in the Great War, at the age of 37 years, 11 months. He was assigned to B Company of the 7th Battalion at Casula, New South Wales and then a month later he was transferred to the Army Medical Corps at Liverpool. He was then transferred to the military camp in Newcastle. During his time in Newcastle he was convicted of civil offences.

It was unknown if Albert was sentenced because of his crimes, but he was dismissed from the Army by Major Frederick James Kindon, the Officer Commanding of the Newcastle Camp on the 18th of August 1916.

Still determined to serve during the Great War, he reinvents himself as a journalist living in Ann Street, Brisbane and adjusts his name to Albert Rees (sometimes spelt Reece) Williams and lowers his age to 35 years 5 months when he re-enlists on the 19th of April 1918. Due to contracting influenza in England Albert didn’t deploy to France until January 1919 assigned to the graves department. He returned to Australia and discharged from Brisbane on the 11th of December 1919.