William Williams (VC)

William Williams
Born	5 October 1890 Anglesey, Wales
Died	22 October 1965 (aged 75) Holyhead, Anglesey
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Seaman
Unit	Royal Naval Reserve
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Medal & Bar

See William Charles Williams for the Battle of Gallipoli Victoria Cross recipient.

William Williams VC, DSM & Bar (5 October 1890 – 22 October 1965), was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a member of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.

He was from Amlwch on Anglesey, and at age 26, was serving as a seaman in the Royal Naval Reserve during the First World War when the following deed took place:

• On 7 June 1917, HMS Pargust (one of the Q ships) was out in the Atlantic Ocean when her engine room was damaged by a torpedo fired from a U-boat. The explosion loosened the gun covers and Seaman Williams, with great presence of mind, took the whole weight on himself and physically prevented the covers from falling and betraying the ship to the enemy.

The 'Panic Party' went away and the U-boat surfaced, thinking that Pargust was a merchant vessel. When the U-boat was about 50 yards (46 m) away, the Commander of Pargust gave the order to fire and the submarine blew up and sank.

The crew conducted a ballot to see which of them would be awarded the medal, as they were all deemed to have taken part equally in the action.

Contents 1 Honours and awards 2 See also 3 References 4 External links

Honours and awards

• 23 March 1917 - Distinguished Service Medal - To receive the Distinguished Service Medal - Sea. William Williams, R.N.R., O.N. 6224A.^[1]
• 20 July 1917 - Victoria Cross - The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the following honours, decorations and medals to Officers and men for services in action with enemy submarines: - To receive the Victoria Cross. Liet. Ronald Neil Stuart, D.S.O., R.N.R.. Sea. William Williams, R.N.R., O.N. 6224A. Lieutenant Stuart and Seaman Williams were selected by the officers and ship's company respectively of one of H.M. Ships to receive the Victoria Cross under Rule 13 of the Royal Warrant dated the 29th January, 1856.^[2]

See also

• Ronald Niel Stuart

References

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Gwynedd, Wales)

Persondata
Name	Williams, William
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1890
Place of birth	Anglesey, Wales
Date of death	1965
Place of death	Holyhead, Anglesey