Service dress tunic : Colonel T I C Williams, 10 Field Artillery Brigade AIF

Officer's khaki wool twill service dress tunic with notched collar and scarlet superfine wool gorget patches, each with a strip of red braid secured by an oxidised brass Australian Military Forces (AMF) button. The shoulder straps, secured to the tunic with a small oxidised brass AMF buttons, carry has two oxidised pips and a crown, indicating rank of colonel. The tunic, which is fastened down the front with four large gilt AMF buttons, has a pair of pleated breast pockets with triple pointed buttoned flaps, and a pair of large expanding pockets over each hip with rectangular buttoned flaps. Sleeves have pointed cuffs. The top of each sleeve carries a triangular, diagonally divided red over dark blue wool colour patch for 1st Division Field Artillery. A back vent extends from the centre back waist band to the bottom of the skirt. Above the left breast pocket are the ribbons for: Distinguished Service Order, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal with MID oak leaf, Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officer's Decoration and French Croix de Guerre with a bronze star. The tunic is lined with khaki cotton sateen and has an inset pocket inside the left front. An embroidered maker's label is stitched to the inside collar, 'No. _/ J. DANIELS & CO. / 1 ARTILLERY PLACE WOOLWICH/ & 34 BURY ST. ST. JAMES, S.W.' Underneath in brown ink is handwritten, 'Lt. Col. T. I. C. Williams. AFA'.

Thomas Isaac Cornwall Williams was born on 23 July 1880, and worked in civilian life as a dental surgeon. Before the outbreak of the First World War, he held the rank of captain in the Citizens Military Force, commanding the 11th Battery, Australian Field Artillery. He had been commissioned a second lieutenant in September 1909.

Williams enlisted in the AIF on 20 October 1915 and was appointed a major in the 4th Division Artillery, in 15th Field Artillery Brigade, which left Australia on 18 November 1915 aboard HMAT A34 'Persic'. After arriving in Egypt Williams joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force which was stationed at the Suez Canal. He remained there, helping with the defence of Egypt, until March 1916 when the 4th Division moved to France for service on the Western Front.

In July 1916 Williams was transferred to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB), 4th Division and undertook a course in gunnery at the school of instruction in England. After his return to France, he was transferred to the command of 39th Battery,10th FAB. Williams was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 4 March 1917 for 'specially meritorious service and devotion to duty as Battery Commander in FRANCE, from June 1916 to February 25th 1917, particularly in operations on FROMELLES front on 19/7/16, when, in a wire cutting task, he remained in Front Line trenches all day under heavy artillery fire; Also during operations in YPRES Sector, from August 27th to November 1st 1916, and in GUEUDECOURT Sector (SOMME) on nights 31st January/1st February and 4/2/17 during attacks of 4th Australian Division on STORMY Trench'.

In November 1917, Williams was promoted to lieutenant -colonel, and after a short period of work at 4th Division Artillery Headquarters and 12th FAB, returned to the command of 39th Battery. Later, in September 1918, Williams was awarded the French Croix de Guerre 'avec Etoile de Vermeil', 'for conspicuous devotion to duty.... particularly during the critical period at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX from 4th May to 3rd June 1918. The sterling work and enduring energy of this officer was not only invaluable to the 10th Aust. F. A. Brigade.... but his cheery and sustained efforts under often most trying and anxious conditions did much to develop to the utmost the prompt and timely fire action of his guns, and in promoting that cordial co-operation and close liaison between ourselves and the 37th French Divisional Artillery'. Williams was also twice mentioned in despatches for his consistent good work and devotion to duty as commanding officer of the 39th Battery during the battles of the Somme, Bullecourt and Messines, and as brigade commander 10th FAB during the battles of Passchendaele, Dernancourt , Villers-Bretonneux and the attacks and subsequent breaking of the Hindenburg Line. Williams returned to Australia on the 'Bremen' in March 1919. His appointment in the AIF was terminated on 8 March 1920.

Williams rejoined the Citizen Military Forces in the same year, commanding 6 FAB from 1920-1921; 14 FAB in 1921, then 21 FAB in 1921-1922. He was appointed to command of the field artillery attached to the 1st Infantry Division in 1922 until 1929. Williams was promoted to colonel in March 1926. In May he received the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Volunteer Officer's decoration for his 'efficient and capable' service in the Volunteer Force for twenty years. He died in London on 27 April 1967.