William Williams
VC,
DSM & Bar (5 October 1890 – 22 October 1965), was a
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
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
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...
armed forces.
He was from
Amlwch on
Anglesey and at age 26 was serving as a
seaman
Seaman may refer to:
* Sailor, a member of a marine watercraft's crew
* Seaman (rank), a military rank in some navies
* Seaman (name) (including a list of people with the name)
* ''Seaman'' (video game), a 1999 simulation video game for the Seg ...
in the
Royal Naval Reserve during the
First World War when the following deed took place:
* On 7 June 1917,
HMS ''Pargust'' (a
Q ship) was out in the
Atlantic Ocean when her engine room was damaged by a
torpedo fired from the
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 Pargust's 'panic party', the decoy crew carried on every Q ship for the purpose of leaving it apparently abandoned when attacked, took to the lifeboats and the U-boat then surfaced, believing the Pargust to be a crewless and defenceless merchant vessel. When the U-boat was about away, the captain of '' HMS Pargust'' gave the order to fire and the submarine was blown up and sank.
In the case of a gallant and daring act in which all men are deemed equally brave and deserving of the Victoria Cross a secret ballot is drawn. The crew of '' HMS Pargust'' selected William Williams to be the recipient of the award due to a
rating in the action.
Honours and awards
*23 March 1917 -
Distinguished Service Medal -
*20 July 1917 -
Victoria Cross -
Photographs
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
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, William
1890 births
1965 deaths
People from Amlwch
Royal Navy sailors
British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United Kingdom)
Royal Navy personnel of World War I
Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross
Welsh recipients of the Victoria Cross
Royal Naval Reserve personnel
Welsh military personnel
Burials in Wales