Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

‘Cam’ Williamson was born in Warracknabeal and enlisted at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, on 16 January 1915 as a 21-year-old single Clerk, with previous service of one year in the Victorian Rifles. He was allocated to the 4th Reinforcements for the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade and embarked from Melbourne on 20 March 1915. ‘Cam’ served on Gallipoli with the artillery but spent two months in hospital in Malta and on Lemnos before returning to Gallipoli. On return to Egypt he was admitted to the No. 2 General Hospital in Cairo with a hernia. Remaining with the artillery, Cam transferred to the newly raised 14th Field Artillery Brigade on 22 March 1916. He was promoted to Temporary Bombardier on 3 May and Bombardier on 19 May prior to Embarking for France on 20 June. In an interesting case, Cam and a mate were Court Martialled for having a camera in their possession. They pleaded “Not Guilty”. The pair had the Attorney General of South Australia as their Defending Officer on the first day of proceedings. He took the officers on the Court Martial Bench to task on so many points of law such that the ‘bench’ needed to adjourn the cases and consider these points. The second day Cam himself cross-examined the prosecutors and witnesses. On 13 September 1916 they were both found ‘Not Guilty’. ‘Cam’ was “Wounded in Action” on 7 August 1917 and taken to England for surgery and to recover. He returned to his unit on 12 November and was promoted to Temporary Sergeant, then Sergeant a few weeks later.  On 6 November 1918 he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant. He embarked for Return to Australia on 2 January 1919 on the Troopship Berrima, disembarked in Melbourne on 17 February and his appointment was terminated on 18 April 1919. ‘Cam’ served again in WW2 from 24 February 1942 until 16 August 1944 ending his time as a Corporal.