General Sir Watkin Lewis Griffies Williams, 3rd Baronet (1800 – 23 May 1877) was the 3rd and last

Baronet A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...

of his line, the Griffies-Williams Baronetcy, and an officer in the British Indian Army. It was noted by a superior that he had a "perfect knowledge" of

Burmese Burmese may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia * Burmese people * Burmese language * Burmese alphabet * Burmese cuisine * Burmese culture Animals * Burmese cat * Burmese chicken * Burmese (hor ...

Early life

Watkin Lewis Griffies Williams was born in 1800 at the family estate Llwynywormwood, Carmarthenshire in Wales.

Military service

During his service under the

East India Company The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (the Indian subcontinent and Southea ...

, he was

mentioned in despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

for his conduct during the First Anglo-Burmese War by Lieutenant Colonel Pepper: "''and from Lieutenant Williams, commanding 3rd Regiment P.L.I. not only for his anxiety and zeal, but from the able assistance I have derived from his perfect knowledge of the Burmese language''.". He was retrospectively awarded the

Army of India Medal The Army of India Medal (AIM) was a campaign medal approved in 1851 for issue to officers and men of the British Army and the Army of the Honourable East India Company. A retrospective award following the precedent set by the Naval General Servic ...

with Ava clasp in recognition of his service during the campaign. Becoming

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

of the 3rd Palamcottah Light Infantry in August 1854, he was promoted to

Brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

Major-General of the Madras Infantry on 28 November 1854, with this rank being confirmed as full Major-General in 1864. He was then further promoted to

Lieutenant-General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

on 17 September 1866 and again to

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

on 25 July 1870.

Later life

Griffies-Williams died at 38 Elgin Road, Notting Hill on 23 May 1877. The Baronetcy ended with him, and his nephew Major Edmund Watkin Kent was granted probate over the estate.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffies-Williams, Watkin Lewis 1800 births 1877 deaths British East India Company Army generals Baronets in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom People from Carmarthenshire British military personnel of the First Anglo-Burmese War British Indian Army generals