WILLIAMS, James Gordon
| Service Numbers: | 452, 3195 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 October 1899 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Cunnamulla, Queensland, Australia, 28 May 1880 |
| Home Town: | Brisbane, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Natural causes, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 10 July 1988, aged 108 years |
| Cemetery: |
Albany Creek Memorial Park-Cemetery & Crematorium, QLD Wall 12 Section 28 |
| Memorials: | Wallumbilla Cenotaph |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 452, 7th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 1899: | Enlisted Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 452, 7th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse | |
| 19 May 1902: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Trooper, 452, 7th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, Name of SHIP: Custodian |
World War 1 Service
| 5 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3195, 5th Light Horse Regiment, 25TH REINFORCEMENT | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Feb 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, 3195, 5th Light Horse Regiment, Rank: Private Unit: Embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board RMS Karmala | |
| 3 Feb 1917: | Involvement Private, 3195, 5th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Karmala embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 3 Feb 1917: | Embarked Private, 3195, 5th Light Horse Regiment, RMS Karmala, Sydney | |
| 10 Aug 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Rank: Corporal | |
| 11 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, 3195, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Rank: Corporal Taken on Strenth | |
| 17 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, 3195, 1st Light Horse Regiment | |
| 2 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, 3195, 1st Light Horse Regiment | |
| 17 Oct 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, 3195, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Sick to Hospital (INFIUENZA) 17.10.1918 Admitted to 2nd Australian Hospital | |
| 2 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, 3195, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Transferred to rest camp | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 3195, 2nd Light Horse Regiment | |
| 23 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, 3195, 1st Light Horse Regiment, Discharged from rest camp to Moascar and Rejoined Unit | |
| 14 Dec 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, 2nd Light Horse Regiment, Rank: Corporal |
A fond memory
Gordon Williams and his family moved to Beckett Road Aspley around 1959. I was drawn to the William’s family as they had horses and i was taught to ride by Mr Williams.
When i was not riding, i would spend time either with MR. Williams or his brother Uncle Len. He used to show me photos of being ion WW1 and a ribbon his father won riding in the Brisbane Cup in the 1890’s.
Other times, i would sit with Mr, Williams and watch tv with. Him. He would talk about breaking horses with Breaker Morant at the back of Roma.
I recall he was in his 80’s and he was asked to look at a horse who was badly injured as a consequence.
It was an ex racehorse. Mr Williams got on this horse as if he was a young man. The quiet way in how he gave the horse it’s head. He rode it up and down Beckett Road and the horse just behaved perfectly. It was in a lather. It didn’t know what to do.
Both Mr. Williams’ were country gentleman and we kids of Beckett Road were embraced and so all of us just loved and invited to learn about horses. We were included in morning tea and lunch. I never wanted to go home.
Uncle Len taught me how to make bridles and regale me with photos of his time in WW1. I learnt so much about taking care of horses. Once a month, we would prepare the horses for the Aspley horse show. Life was never dull.
In quiet times, Mr. Williams would talk about his time with the horses in South Africa. How they were taught to fall.
I recall him telling me he signed up for the Boer War, WW1 and even tried for WW2.
How i loved the Williams family. They were marvellous to us kids and instilled in me to have horses and to share my knowledge and encourage as i had been shown.
Submitted 22 February 2021 by Lesley Taylor
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