WILLIAMS, Moreton David
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 May 1915, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery - part of firing first shot of WWI |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 36th Heavy Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 30 August 1884 |
| Home Town: | Queenscliff, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Soldier |
| Died: | 26 August 1969, aged 84 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, NSW |
| Memorials: | Queenscliff Royal Australian Garrison Artillery Third Military District Honor Roll, St Johns No 36, Yarrowee No 10, Orion No 53 Lodges |
World War 1 Service
| 21 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain, Siege Artillery Brigade, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery - part of firing first shot of WWI | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jul 1915: | Involvement Captain, Siege Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Orsova embarkation_ship_number: A67 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jul 1915: | Embarked Captain, Siege Artillery Brigade, HMAT Orsova, Melbourne | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, Siege Artillery Brigade | |
| 12 Aug 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Major, 36th Heavy Artillery Brigade | |
| 3 Sep 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Major, 36th Heavy Artillery Brigade, 3rd MD |
Help us honour Moreton David Williams's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
From Australian Military History - Karan Campbell
Bought a WW1 Silver War Badge this week on an online auction site. After researching it, I found its original recipient was said to have given the order to fire the first Australian shot of WW1...
Born in Ballarat in 1884, and a career Army Officer since 1906, Moreton David WILLIAMS was a Captain in 6th Company, Royal Australian Garrison Artillery, at Fort Nepean, Melbourne, in 1914. About midday on 5th August 1914, shortly after War had been declared, the German merchant vessel SS Pfalz had not long left Melbourne and was steaming for the Port Phillip heads after ignoring signals which had been hoisted to direct the vessel to stop, when the order to "Stop her, or sink her" was given by Solicitor - General Sir Robert Garran, to Lieutenant Colonel Augustus SANDFORD. This order was relayed to Fort Nepean, where Captain WILLIAMS issued the order to his gun crew, who fired the warning shot which fell just short of the stern of the Pfalz. The vessel subsequently returned to Port Melbourne, and the crew surrendered.
On 21 May 1915 Captain Moreton David WILLIAMS joined the AIF, and served with the Siege Artillery Brigade in the 55th Siege Battery, soon being promoted to Major. He was injured in a motor vehicle accident in 1917, but after serving in France he returned to Australia for discharge in August 1919. He continued to serve, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, until December 1935.
Lt Col Williams died in Sydney on 26 August 1969, aged 85, and is interred in the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens, North Ryde.
Click images to start slideshow.