WILLIAMS, Charles Morrice
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 January 1915, Enlisted at Melbourne |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Cairns, Queensland, Australia , 2 July 1891 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Melbourne Grammar School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 9 October 1917, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tyne Cot Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium Plot XXXV111, Row F, Grave 24 |
| Memorials: | MCC Roll of Honour 1914 - 1918 - Melbourne Cricket Club, Melbourne Grammar School WW1 Fallen Honour Roll, St. Kilda East All Saints Anglican Church Mausoleum Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Officer, Enlisted at Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug 1915: | Involvement 24th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Aug 1915: | Embarked 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 169 Date: 4 October 1917 | |
| 9 Oct 1917: | Involvement Captain, 24th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 24 Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1917-10-09 |
Help us honour Charles Morrice Williams's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
29 November 1915 - Wounded in action, wound to the forehead
1 May 1916 - Promoted to Leiutenant
8 August 1916 - Recommended for the MIlitary Cross
12 August 1916 - Promted to Captain
5 June 1917 - Awarded Military Cross
20 September 1917 -- Wounded in action but remained on duty
9 October 1917 - Killed in action, shot through the head by a sniper
Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
CHARLES MORRICE WILLIAMS who was killed in action in France on 9th October 1917 was the second son of O. M. Williams (No. 913 on the School Roll). He was born in 1891 and entered the School in 1903, staying there till 1909. He passed matriculation and was appointed a Prefect in 1909. He was in the School crew in 1908 and 1909, and was Captain of the Boats in 1909. He was also a Lieutenant of Cadets in 1908 and 1909. He was a first-class oarsman, and showed great promise with the Banks Rowing Club, but leaving Melbourne for the country prevented him going on with the sport. He was a splendid fellow, of most loyal nature and
temperament.
He enlisted in 1915 and went with the 24th Battalion to Anzac,
where he was wounded in the head. He received his commission on 16th May 1915 and on 14th March 1916 was taken on the strength of the 23rd Battalion, being promoted to Lieutenant on 1st May 1916 and to Captain in 24th Battalion on 12th August 1916. He was on 4th June 1917 awarded the Military Cross and was personally
thanked by General Birdwood, who wrote: "I well know what good work you have done for the A.I.F., and am pleased to have this opportunity of thanking you for it."
The particulars of his death are supplied by R. L. G. Kent (No. 2825
on the School Roll) as follows : "I have never, either, in or out of the army, met a man for whom I have had as great a respect and regard. Every man in his company thought the world of their Captain; in fact it was the same throughout the whole battalion. Of his death I can only tell you what I have learned from the boys with him at the time. He was leading them in one of the advances
we made at Broodseinde and was encouraging his men to come on when he was hit. He died very soon after he received his injuries. I', feel that no praise could be too high for him.
His fairness, thought for his men and their interests, and in fact everything connected with him, earned a very warm place in all our hearts and a permanent place in our memories. I feel with many others that in losing our Captain we have all suffered a great loss. I have lost very many friends lately, men from every walk in life whom I have met out here and learned to like. One wonders if whatever is gained by continuing the war can possibly compensate for the loss to every one of these fine men."
Major Crowther writes thus : "I took our crowd over, and the red and whites were on our flanks. Sniping and machine-gun fire were very heavy, and they got Charlie instantaneously while he was going strong in front of his company. He fell just near the south-west corner of Daisy Wood, a little way over Broodseinde Ridge. His battalion intend to erect a fitting memorial as soon as possible, but it is quite out of the question yet. There is no need for me to dilate on Charlie's merits and what his men thought of him; you know all that
as well as I do."
Click images to start slideshow.