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The son of a [[British Army]] officer, [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[D. E. Williams (British Army officer)|D. E. Williams]], Aubrey Williams was born on 19 May 1888 and was educated at [[Monmouth School for Boys|Monmouth Grammar School]].<ref name=smart335>Smart, p. 335</ref> He later entered the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], from where he was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a [[second lieutenant]] into the [[South Wales Borderers]] on 9 October 1907.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28067|date=8 October 1907|page=6747}}</ref> He was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] on 9 June 1909.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28282|date=24 August 1909|page=6448}}</ref><ref name=smart335/>
The son of a [[British Army]] officer, [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant Colonel]] [[D. E. Williams (British Army officer)|D. E. Williams]], Aubrey Williams was born on 19 May 1888 and was educated at [[Monmouth School for Boys|Monmouth Grammar School]].<ref name=smart335>Smart, p. 335</ref> He later entered the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], from where he was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a [[second lieutenant]] into the [[South Wales Borderers]] on 9 October 1907.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28067|date=8 October 1907|page=6747}}</ref> He was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] on 9 June 1909.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28282|date=24 August 1909|page=6448}}</ref><ref name=smart335/>


Williams fought in the [[World War I|First World War]] and received a promotion to the rank of [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 22 October 1914.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28968|date=6 November 1914|page=9112|supp=y}}</ref><ref name=smart181/> After seeing action in the [[Gallipoli campaign]],<ref name=iow>{{cite web|url=http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/church_burials/results3_2.php?id=31364|title=Aubrey Williams|publisher=Isle of Wight Historical Society|accessdate=27 May 2020|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026172033/http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/church_burials/results3_2.php?id=31364|url-status=dead}}</ref> he served as a [[Staff (military)|staff officer]] with the [[30th Division (United Kingdom)|30th Division]] on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]], earning recognition with his appointment as a companion of the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31183|date=14 February 1919|page=2365|supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31480|date=29 July 1919|page=9683|supp=y}}</ref>
Williams fought in the [[World War I|First World War]] and received a promotion to the rank of [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 22 October 1914.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28968|date=6 November 1914|page=9112|supp=y}}</ref><ref name=smart335/> After seeing action in the [[Gallipoli campaign]],<ref name=iow>{{cite web|url=http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/church_burials/results3_2.php?id=31364|title=Aubrey Williams|publisher=Isle of Wight Historical Society|accessdate=27 May 2020|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026172033/http://www.isle-of-wight-fhs.co.uk/church_burials/results3_2.php?id=31364|url-status=dead}}</ref> he served as a [[Staff (military)|staff officer]] with the [[30th Division (United Kingdom)|30th Division]] on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]], earning recognition with his appointment as a companion of the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31183|date=14 February 1919|page=2365|supp=y}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31480|date=29 July 1919|page=9683|supp=y}}</ref>


Williams also saw action during the [[Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)|Waziristan campaign]] in late 1937 earning him a [[medal bar|bar]] to his DSO in August 1938.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34542|date=16 August 1938|page=5286}}</ref><ref name=iow/>
Williams also saw action during the [[Waziristan campaign (1936–1939)|Waziristan campaign]] in late 1937 earning him a [[medal bar|bar]] to his DSO in August 1938.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34542|date=16 August 1938|page=5286}}</ref><ref name=iow/>

Revision as of 01:38, 5 August 2021

Aubrey Williams
Born19 May 1888
Died25 March 1977 (aged 88)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1907–1940
1941–1944
RankMajor General
Service number4098
UnitSouth Wales Borderers
Commands held1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers
160th Infantry Brigade
38th (Welsh) Infantry Division
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Military Cross
Mentioned in despatches (5)

Major General Aubrey Ellis Williams CBE, DSO & Bar, MC (19 May 1888 – 25 March 1977) was a senior British Army officer.

Military career

The son of a British Army officer, Lieutenant Colonel D. E. Williams, Aubrey Williams was born on 19 May 1888 and was educated at Monmouth Grammar School.[1] He later entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the South Wales Borderers on 9 October 1907.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant on 9 June 1909.[3][1]

Williams fought in the First World War and received a promotion to the rank of captain on 22 October 1914.[4][1] After seeing action in the Gallipoli campaign,[5] he served as a staff officer with the 30th Division on the Western Front, earning recognition with his appointment as a companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[6][7]

Williams also saw action during the Waziristan campaign in late 1937 earning him a bar to his DSO in August 1938.[8][5]

He became commander of the 160th Infantry Brigade, part of the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division, in February 1939[9] and, in April 1940, seven months after the outbreak of the Second World War, went with his brigade to Northern Ireland where the brigade was mainly involved in anti-invasion duties and exercises training to repel a potential German invasion of Northern Ireland.[10] He became General Officer Commanding 38th (Welsh) Division in the United Kingdom in May 1940 before retired in October.[9]

In retirement he was local President of the Royal British Legion on the Isle of Wight.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Smart, p. 335
  2. ^ "No. 28067". The London Gazette. 8 October 1907. p. 6747.
  3. ^ "No. 28282". The London Gazette. 24 August 1909. p. 6448.
  4. ^ "No. 28968". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 November 1914. p. 9112.
  5. ^ a b c "Aubrey Williams". Isle of Wight Historical Society. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  6. ^ "No. 31183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 February 1919. p. 2365.
  7. ^ "No. 31480". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 July 1919. p. 9683.
  8. ^ "No. 34542". The London Gazette. 16 August 1938. p. 5286.
  9. ^ a b "Williams, Aubrey Ellis". Generals.dk. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  10. ^ "2nd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment". Wartime NI. Retrieved 27 May 2020.

Bibliography

  • Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.
Military offices
Preceded by GOC 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division
May–October 1940 		Succeeded by
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