The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (294) Able Seaman William George Vincent “Billy” Williams, ANMEF, First World War

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Nicholas Schmidt, the story for this day was on (294) Able Seaman William George Vincent “Billy” Williams, ANMEF, First World War.

294 Able Seaman William George Vincent “Billy” Williams, ANMEF
DOW 11 September 1914

Photograph: H05465

Today we remember and pay tribute to Able Seaman William George Vincent Williams, whose photograph is displayed beside the Pool of Reflection.

“Billy” Williams was born in Melbourne in 1886 to George and Victoria Williams. George died in 1906 and Victoria re-married the same year and moved to Northcote. Billy remained in the Richmond area, where he had become a prominent and popular figure. He was a member of the Loyal Orange Lodge No. 92 in Melbourne and of the Richmond Rifle Club. Billy also worked for the local La Trobe Council, where his fast wit and easygoing manner earned him many friends.

Soon after the outbreak of the First World War, Australia was asked to raise and send a force to German New Guinea and its territories to destroy the wireless stations there and to occupy the area. This force would be known as the Australian Naval & Military Expeditionary Force.

Williams, who was living in Jolimont when the war began, had spent nearly five years as a naval reservist, and had just one week left to serve when he was placed on standby. He was called up for service the following day, going into barracks at the Naval Depot at Williamstown. Such was the speed of his call-up that he was unable to contact his mother and sister to let them know where he was.

In August Williams and his fellow reservists entrained for Sydney, where they were sent straight to Cockatoo Island. Here they boarded the transport ship Berrima, and departed the next day.

When the ship stopped at Palm Island, Lieutenant Roland Bowen and 24 other men, including Williams, were selected as the initial landing force and transferred to HMAS Sydney. This force then sailed via Port Moresby to New Britain.

They landed unopposed at Kabakaul early on 11 September. Bowen’s orders were to move inland and destroy a wireless station believed to be at Bitapaka. As the party set out a brief fire-fight occurred with a German-held position; this was quickly captured and a number of prisoners were taken.

The group moved on, but Williams and two others remained behind to ferry messages and direct reinforcements. Noticing some Indigenous locals in a nearby coconut plantation, Williams and another sailor went to investigate. No threat was detected but, as the two men returned to the road, Williams was shot. He was the first Australian casualty of the Great War.

Captain Brian Pockley, a doctor who had accompanied Bowen’s landing force, attended Williams and, realising the wound was mortal, ordered that he be taken to the beach. He gave his Red Cross arm band to one of the sailors carrying Williams.

Pockley was shot soon after, and both men were taken to the Berrima. The medical staff on board did their best to make them comfortable, but Pockley died shortly before 2 pm, Williams following soon after. The bodies of both men were taken ashore and buried that evening at Herbertshöhe. Williams was 28 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, along with more than 60,000 others from the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of courage and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Able Seaman William George Vincent “Billy” Williams, and all of those Australians who have given their lives in service of our nation.