Description
1914-15 Star, reverse impressed “3499 PTE J.J. WILLIAMS. 11/BN. A.I.F.”
British War Medal, edge impressed “3499 PTE J.J. WILLIAMS. 11 BN. A.I.F.”
Victory Medal, edge impressed “3499 PTE J.J. WILLIAMS. 11 BN. A.I.F.”
Memorial Plaque (“Death Penny”), named to “JOHN JAMES WILLIAMS”.
A fine World War I trio and memorial plaque to the 11th battalion – a tragic story of a South Australian widower who died of wounds at Pozières, an action with a heavy toll on the Australian divisions. Medals unmounted and as issued, memorial plaque the same and housed within original envelope.
Born on the 18th October 1871 in Blinman, South Australia, John James Williams was the son of Mr Thomas Henry Williams and Mrs Sarah Tonkin Williams (nee Williams), and a resident of the town of Blinman in his early years where he worked as a carpenter. John married Ms Geneva Burton on the 1st May 1897 but tragically lost her to illness in 1908 – together they had one son, Jack Williams. On the 27th July 1915, John attested for the Australian Imperial Force at Perth and was posted to the 11th Infantry Battalion and assigned rank and number Private 3499.
- Embarked from Freemantle
- Proceeded to the Western Front, France from Alexandria, 29th March 1916, disembarked at Marseille 5th April
The Battle of Pozières took place in northern France around the village of Pozières between 23rd July to 3rd September 1916, as part of the Battle of the Somme. The 11th Battalion’s attack first assault began just before midnight on 23rd July and was a costly success. The following day, during the night of 24/25th July, the Australians attacked again, but after establishing a new defensive line, the 11th was forced to withdraw after suffering heavily from both friendly and enemy shelling. Following the second attack, John was reported as missing in action on the 25th July, but this was changed when he was recovered as being severely wounded in action with a gunshot wound to his legs. He was evacuated to the 3rd Casualty clearing station where he died of wounds on the 29th July 1916, later buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery, Somme, France.
“[Pozières Ridge was] more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth”. (Historian Charles Bean)
