Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Book: | Beyond The Five Points | Pgs 330-331 | |
Awards & Titles: | George Cross 1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal Defence Medal (1939-1945) Coronation Medal (1953) | ||
Early Life :
He was married to Teresa (née Gilbert) and they had two sons and a daughter.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
- The Second World War 1939-1945, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 6th Battalion London Regiment (City of London Rifles) |
1/6th (City of London) Battalion (Rifles) August 1914 : at Farringdon Road. Part of 2nd London Brigade, 1st London Division. Moved on mobilisation to Bisley, going on in September to Crowborough. 5 November 1914 : moved to Watford and transferred to 4th London Brigade in 2nd London Division. 18 March 1915 : landed at Le Havre. 11 May 1915 : formation renamed 140th Brigade in 47th (2nd London) Division. 31 January 1918 : transferred to 174th Brigade in 58th (2/1st London) Division, absorbed the disbanded 2/6th Bn and renamed 6th Bn. |
| Action : War Survivor |
Although many perished in times of national conflict and in the service of their country, many more survived including those interned as Prisoners of War. Stories of those who did survive are included as part of this site, especially those with high gallantry awards, those included against an external rolls of honour and those who had a distinguished career in wartime and military leaderhip.
Detail :
Upon the outbreak of WW1 he volunteered to serve with the 1st/6th Battalion, The London Regiment (City of London Rifles), having had former service as a Territorial.
London Gazette 30th August, 1918: "In France, on 4th January last, a soldier dropped a lighted match in a dug-out which had been used as a store for gunpowder. Although most of the gunpowder had been removed, there was a considerable amount scattered on the floor, which caught fire. The soldier was overcome by the fumes, and in spite of the volumes of smoke issuing from the dug-out, Lance-Corporal Williams entered the dug-out and rescued the soldier, who was then badly burned and unconscious. Williams, who was severely burned himself, had to carry the man up twenty steps, and, if it had not been for his prompt action, the man would have lost his life."
The rescued man, George, who shared the same as Sidney died as a result of his injuries four days later.
During the second world war, he served as part of the Air Raid Precautions (ARP).
He gave his Albert Medal to the Imperial War Museum, where it is now on display, and was invested with The George Cross in 1972.
See also: GC Database.
See also VC Online.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | City of London Rifles No. 5606 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
11th May 1943 | 13th July 1943 | 14th September 1943 |
Sidney Williams was initiated into Freemasonry on 11 May 1943, into The City of London Rifles Lodge, Number 5606, meeting at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street. His occupation was given as Transport Manager. In 1957 he took office as Junior Warden, and in 1958 as Senior Warden, although he was not actually invested because of illness. He did however continue in office and was elected Worshipful Master on 10 March 1959, at the age of 71. Brother Williams was Exalted into Royal Arch Masonry on 9th December, 1953, at the age of 65, in the Peckham Chapter, No. 1475, but did not hold any office.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley