Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Henry Leslie Williams

Henry Leslie Williams was born on the 27th of February 1890 in Kent Town, South Australia to father Samuel Henry Williams. He later lived and was raised in a house on Thomas Street, Broken Hill, NSW. He was described as tan with brown eyes and auburn hair. His body structure was measured as a height of 5ft 9 ½ IN. His weight was 137lbs and his chest measured as 32, 34 ½ IN.

Before enlisting in the war, Williams’s occupation was an Ironmonger and practised Methodist as a religion. He was examined and was deemed fit for service on the 6th of August 1915. He enlisted on the 20th of August 1915 at the age of 25 years and six months but only embarked a year later on the 1st of August from Melbourne, Victoria on board the HMAT A67 Orsova. He was given the service number 26090. His rank on enlistment was a Gunner. On the nominal roll, his class was a staff sergeant and was enlisted in the 1st Field Artillery Brigade Unit. His father Samuel Henry Williams was listed as his next to kin.

After the war, Henry was rewarded with medals for his service; these include the Victory medal, 1914-1915 Star, and the British War Medal. These medals are rewarded to those who fought in WW1 for the British in specific fields of the war.

Fortunately, Henry was not killed in the war departed on the 5th of October 1919. In his life after the war, he lived in Rye, Victoria, with his wife Myrtle Graham and their three children. He died on the 5th of September 1960 at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital in Melbourne.

His name is found in memorials such as the Victorian Garden of Remembrance, Woodside – district of Onkaparinga WW1 and the Adelaide HB09 south Australian railways – Adelaide railway station.

Described on enlistment as  25 years 6 months old, single, 5’9 ¼” tall; 137 lbs; Fair complexion; brown eyes; auburn hair; Methodist.

Father Samuel Henry Williams, Thomas Street, Broken Hill, NSW (on enlisting address).

Father Samuel Henry Williams and Jeannie Sommerville (nee YOUNG) Agery Road, Kadina

Previous service            18 months Senior Cadets

6/8/1915                        Completed medical – fit for service

20/8/1915                      Enlisted  in  Adelaide  as a  Gunner in the 15th Field Artillery Brigade,
                                      4th Reinforcements

15/1/1916                      “A” Group, Mitcham Camp

16/1/1916                      Gunner - Field Artillery Brigade

30/4/1916                      as Corporal

16/5/1916                      Gunner - Field Artillery Brigade,  Maribyrnong, Victoria

10/7/1916                      Commanding Officer appointed Henry to 15th Field Artillery Brigade,
                                      4th Reinforcements

1/8/1916                        Embarked   from  Melbourne  on  HMAT A67 Orsova

28/1/1917                      Transferred to 1^st Field Artillery Brigade - France

5/3/1917                        To Hospital – sick (rheumatism)

13/9/1917                      Detached to 1st Anzac Hospital, for duty with concert party

16/9/1917                      Attached to HQ for duty from Field Artillery details - France

25/2/1919                      Promoted to Staff Sergeant,  1^st Field Artillery Brigade

23/7/1919                      Returned to Australia     per “Main”   (arrived 5/10/1919)

21/11/1919                    Honourably Discharged in Adelaide

Lived at:                       20 Lyndhurst Crescent   AUBURN

DIED:                           9/5/1960
CEMETERY:                 __________

Medals:
WWI Star 1914-15;   British War medal (15558);  Victory medal (15527)

Sourced and submitted by Julianne T Ryan.   28 July 2014.   Lest we forget.