Philip Harding WILLIAMS

Regimental number534
Place of birthBrixton, London, England
ReligionBaptist
OccupationFarm hand
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Next of kinFather, W J Williams, 67 Saltdown Road, Brixton, London, England
Enlistment date27 October 1914
Place of enlistmentGuildford, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name10th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/15/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A47 Mashobra on 17 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll16th Battalion
FateKilled in Action 31 August 1916
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
81
Medals

Military Medal

'These two men [WILLIAMS and 3858 Henry ARUNDEL] are members of the Scouting Section of the Battalion. They accompanied the Scout Officer (Lieutenant LYNAS) into No Man's Land, and under his direction placed the guiding lights referred to in my report concerning the Officer referred to. Working together and separately they frequently made incursions into No Man's Land, and supplied me with useful and accurate information concerning the enemy's dispositions, and on the afternoon of the 11th August, 1916, through their reconnaissance were able to give men forewarning of the counter attack which subsequently developed. Subsequently on the 10th/12th August, 1916, when the Battalion runners were greatly reduced in numbers through casualties these two men were used in that capacity and here again displayed the greatest resource and courage in the execution of their duties. They are both recommended for high distinction.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 62
Date: 19 April 1917

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal