Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Arnold Williams was born in 1883 in Charlton, Vic.   He was the son of William and Sophia Maria Williams, of High Street, Charlton.   He was married to Ethel, and they had one child.    Always known by his initials, Mr. J. A. Anderson was the manager of the furnishing department of the Beehive stores.

John Arnold Williams enlisted in Bendigo on 6.7.15.    He was 32 years & 4 months old, and stated his previous military service to have been as a Sergeant with the 17th Light Horse, Bendigo.    He Subscribed at the Depot on 4.8.15.   

"The employes of Mr R. O. Henderson’s Beehive Stores met on Monday night after closing for the purpose of holding a recruiting meeting.   This effort, which was quite spontaneous on the part of the assistants themselves, was very successful.   Considerable enthusiasm was aroused, and so far no less than 16 members of the staff have expressed their intention to volunteer.   Of that number seven have already passed the doctor.   Almost every single man in the employ of the Beehive has decided to offer his services to his King and country in this crisis.   . . . . . .  Mr J. Williams, who has been accepted, also spoke, urging the men to take the step he himself had taken.”     [Bendigonian   8 July 1915]

On 10.8.15 he was sent to train with the Army Medical Corps at Bendigo.   He was promoted to Corporal on 1.9.15.    

“Amongst the volunteers from the Beehive emporium is Mr J. A. Williams, who has been manager of the furnishing department for several years, and who has enlisted in the Light Horse Ambulance.  Mr Williams will be leaving for the front shortly, and the employes at the Beehive took advantage of his visit to the city on final leave to make him a suitable presentation yesterday afternoon.   Mr J. C. Henderson presided, and in the absence of Major R. O. Henderson, asked Mr. A. Mackay to hand Mr Williams a Colt automatic revolver, subscribed by the employes and firm.   In making the presentation, Mr Mackay eulogised Mr Williams for his patriotism in offering his services, especially as he was a married man with a child.   Messrs T. M’Whirter (accountant), Dixon (who succeeds Mr Williams as manager of the furnishing department), E. W. Jackson and Trebilcock (junior assistant) supported Mr Mackay’s remarks, and wished Mr Williams a safe return.   Mr Williams thanked the firm and his former colleagues for their good wishes and useful present, and also referred to the generous manner in which the firm was treating him.   He said that although he was a married man, he felt it was his duty to volunteer.   Mr Williams has had previous military training, which will be very useful to him now.”      [The Bendigo Advertiser   24 September 1915]

On 9.2.16 John Arnold Williams was transferred to the Clearing Hospital at Broadmeadows, and the following day was appointed to the 16th Reinforcements for 2nd Field Ambulance, with Service No. 9797.    He embarked for overseas on 14.3.16.   In Egypt he was attached to the 13th Field Ambulance and reverted to Private.  (20.4.16)

In a letter dated 25th April, 1916, J. A. Williams wrote: “We are not allowed now to tell where we are, or anything concerning any movements, but there is a big move on very soon.   We are a long way out in the desert.   It is awfu’ly hot, and flies and sand seem to predominate.   Give me Australia every time.   We had Easter away out here.   You can imagine how we felt, as we thought of all our dear ones at home.   Aeroplanes fly over our camp and we are not far from action.   . . . . .   I am enclosing a small piece of linen, marked ‘St Paul’s Church, Bendigo.’   It might be of interest to those fine ladies to know that I was the one who opened a package of old linen to bandage a wound, and this was the first thing that caught my eye.   So you can tell them through your paper whoever sent these goods, that they have come to the right place.   . . . . .    The Prince of Wales passed through here on a tour of inspection yesterday.   We may move very shortly, and we are anxious to get out of this country.   The food is good, and we were all issued cigarettes yesterday"        [Bendigonian   1 June 1916]

He embarked for France on 6.6.16.    On 19.7.16 he was appointed Lance Corporal and attached for duty with the 4th Divisional Train.    

“Whilst out not far behind the lines the other day a British aeroplane crashed to the ground not 20 yards from me.   I happened to be the nearest to it, and ran to the spot and lifted the airman down, rendered him first aid, and bandaged his head, which was severely wounded by shrapnel fire.   I took him in an ambulance to our dressing station, where he was properly attended to.   He told me that he was shot at 12 miles over the German lines, and that he steered the machine all the way.   The machine was pierced in different places by shrapnel.   He said he was determined to bring his machine to our lines.”      [Bendigonian 23 November 1916]

On 17.9.16 John Arnold Williams was taken to hospital at the 13th Field Ambulance.   He was subsequently transferred to the 13th Ambulance Train and embarked for England, where he was admitted to East Leeds War Hospital (20.9.16)   He was suffering from Prostatitis  although this was not mentioned in his letters home.

“Mr. W. Williams, of Charlton, received a letter by the last mail from his son, Corporal J. A. Williams, late of the Beehive Stores, Bendigo, in which he said he would soon be convalescent.   He was in hospital in Leeds, England, suffering from shell shock, and was doing well.   He speaks highly of the kindness of the hospital authorities, and extols the splendid work done by the members of the Red Cross Societies.”    [Bendigonian   7 December 1916]

He was Discharged from East Leeds Hospital on 30.10.16 and sent to No. 3 Australian Army Hospital.    On 15.11.16 he began 2 weeks Furlough and then reported to No 2 Australian Depot at Wareham.   On 15.12.16 he arrived at the Army Medical Corps Training Depot at Parkhouse.   He was admitted to Hospital at Parkhouse on 2.1.17, suffering from Coryza (i.e. inflammation of the membrane in the nose).   He returned to the AMC Depot on 10.1.17.

In a letter dated 11th April, 1917, J. A. Williams, wrote: “I am pretty well again.   I had a very rough time in France.   I was in different hospitals in England from September until December, when I had to go before a medical board again, and was given three months’ duty in England.  I have had charge of a big detail kit store.   As my time is nearly up, I suppose I will be sent back again to France shortly.”    [Bendigonian   21 June 1917]

On 15.6.17 he was transferred to 17th Field Ambulance at Windmill Hill.   He was promoted to Corporal on 12.7.17.    He was particularly appreciative of the work of the Red Cross Society, and one of his letters was read aloud by Mrs G. Mackay at a rally in Bendigo.   

“I have studied Red Cross work pretty closely in Egypt, France, and England.   The organisation is absolutely the best.   I have had charge of certain parts of it at different places in France and England, and some of the articles have been available right up to the front trenches. . . . . ”     [Bendigonian   6 December 1917]   

He embarked for France on 31.10.17 and was attached to 3rd Australian General Hospital at Abbeville  (17.11.17).   He was transferred to 3rd Field Ambulance on 4.4.18, but was almost immediately admitted to hospital (9.4.18) with Cystitis.   He was Invalided to England and admitted to the Military Hospital at Tidworth (18.4.18).    He enjoyed two weeks’ furlough from 7.6.18   and then reported to the Depot at Sutton Veny.    In August he spent a week in the Clearing Hospital at Sutton Veny suffering from a cyst.

He returned to Australia on 22.12.18 as part of the nursing staff on board “Bakara”.     

“Members of the Beehive Staff who Served in the Great War”: Larna Malone