Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Police Station, Sale, Victoria

Stratford born, Samuel James Williams, served for almost 4 years in the 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Citizen Military Forces, as well as having a 6 years membership of the Stratford Rifle Club.

Appointed, on 29 May 1913, to the Victoria Police Force, 21 years of age, Constable Samuel James Williams was allocated registered number 5877.
Transferring, on 22 August 1913, to Russell Street, working the Elizabeth and Flinders Street intersection point duty, about 4.50 p.m., on 20 November 1913, Sam Williams witnessed his colleague Constable Connor’s failed attempt to stop a jinker pulling bolting horse.

Leaping at the frightened quadruped, Sam Williams grabbed it around the neck with his right arm, whilst taking the bit and noseband with his left.
Dragging the courageous constable 50 metres, whilst plunging, the animal became entangled in a bicycle, coming to a halt against a brass framed shop window.

Cheering and clapping, the adorning crowd warmly praised the brave constable responsible for the heroic corralling of the stampeding steed. It was soon learnt the animal spent 20 minutes wreaking havoc from the North Melbourne until its Flinders Street capture.

For pre-eminent valor and bravery in the discharge of police duties, in stopping a bolting horse in Flinders Street, Melbourne on 20 November 1913, Constable Samuel Williams 5877 was presented with a Victoria Police Gold Medal for Bravery [Valour Badge].

For his bravery, in the identical 20 November 1913 incident, Constable Samuel Williams 5877 was awarded Royal Humane Society of Australasia Bronze Medal.

Returning the Gippsland, Samuel James Williams, enlisted, on 10 June 1915, in the 1st AIF whilst residing at Munro, 11 km east of his birth place. Assigned to the 4th Light Horse Regiment, 8th Reinforcement, Trooper Sam Williams embarked, on 20 August 1915, from Melbourne for Egypt.

During regimental operations, on 25 June 1917, near Khirbat al 'Ashūsh, Egypt, Corporal Sam Williams, in charge of a covering party supporting the retirement of a rear guard troop, saw a horse fall, stunning its rider, Trooper Prior.

Immediately, under heavy rifle as well as machine gun fire, Sam Williams rode back, returning with Trooper Prior on his mount, Prior’s having galloped away.
For his bravery in rescuing Trooper Prior, whilst under fire at Khirbat al 'Ashūsh, Egypt on 25 June 1917, Corporal Samuel Williams 1199 was awarded the Military Medal.

Serving at Egypt, Gallipoli, Palestine, Sam Williams earned promotion to Sergeant, before returning to Melbourne on 30 January 1918, to be discharged 4 months later.

Rejoining, on 28 August 1918, the Victoria Police Force, Constable Sam Williams MM VB returned to his native Gippsland. Performing duty, on 27 August 1919, during a record Thomson River flood at Sale, Sam Williams became aware of two lads, Eric Reed and George Tyler, became marooned. Together with Constable Frank Mc Corkell, Sam Williams took a motor boat to Gerrand’s Myrtle bank, rescuing both youths.

For his bravery in rescuing Eric Reed and George Tyler from floods on the Thomson River at Sale on 27 August 1919, Constable Samuel James Williams MM VB 5877 was awarded Royal Humane Society of Australasia Silver Medal.

Superintendent Samuel James Williams MM VA was superannuated [maximum age] from the Victoria Police Force on 23 August 1951. Six years later, following his 20 June 1957 demise, he was laid to rest at Coburg Cemetery, Victoria.