WILLIAMS, George Alfred
| Service Number: | 312 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Company Sergeant Major |
| Last Unit: | 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, 4 March 1872 |
| Home Town: | Torwood, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Cabinet Maker, Clerk, Soldier |
| Died: | Cerebral thrombosis, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 17 October 1956, aged 84 years |
| Cemetery: |
Toowong (Brisbane General) Cemetery, Queensland Plot: Portion: 11 - Section: 10 - Grave; 8 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Warrant Officer II, 312, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Mar 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Company Sergeant Major, 312, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 488 notes 5th QIB embarked at Pinkenba 6 Mar 1901 aboard Templemore arriving Port Elizabeth 1 Apr 1901. | |
| 5 May 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Company Sergeant Major, 312, 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 491 notes 5th QIB embarked at Cape Town 27 Mar 1902 aboard St Andrew returning to Australia arriving Brisbane 30 Apr 1902, disbanded 5 May 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
When George Alfred Williams enlisted in 1901 with the 5th QIB and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 16 Mar 1901, he noted his N.O.K. as his wife, Torwood, Brisbane. Prior to joining the 5th QIB he was serving as a Colour Sergeant with the Moreton Regiment of the Queensland Defence Forces.
George Alfred Williams was born on 4 Mar 1872 at Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, a son to George Williams and Charlotte Williams (nee Clarke). He married Elizabeth Ellen Brant on 13 Apr 1893 at the residence of Rev. J. Stewart, Arthur St., New Farm. They had 7 children.
He worked for a furniture maker before becomming a clerk in the Ordinance Stores while a member of the Queensland Volunteer Rifles, and later a Colour Sergeant with the Moreton Regiment. After his return from the Boer War he joined the permanent staff of the Defence Forces serving at various Queensland locations including Clermont, Rockhampton and Brisbane.
At the outbreak of WW1 he was serving with the Oxley Regiment in Brisbane when he was appointed as an officer with the 15th Battalion AIF. However, he was assigned the role of Camp Sergeant Major at Enoggera where he was a instructor in small arms. After WW1 he was appointed as senior Warrant Officer of the Moreton Regiment and was last serving with the 9/15 at Victoria Barracks. He was retired in 1932 with the rank of Major. Throughout his life he was a competent sportsman including swimming and lifesaving and a first class rifleman.
He served for 10 years as the president of the South African Veterans Association.
Part of the information for the above was extracted from a newspaper article included in his Bio published on the Australian Boer War Memorial database, see links to access the full Bio.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 500; National Archives Australia- Military Officer Records; Australian Boer War Memorial- database Bio; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 1 p. 25).
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