Fred Morris Williams was born in Penzance, Cornwall in 1889. Enlisting into the Devonshire Regiment he was posted to the 8th (Service) Battalion. This newly-formed battalion completed training on Salisbury Plain and embarked for France on 25 July 1915.
Their first action was at Loos on 25 September 1915 and they were later involved on the Somme before taking part in the attack on Bullecourt and Gheluvelt.
Entraining for Italy on 18 November 1917 they saw action on the Asiago Plateau and the successful crossing of the Piave River.
He was Mentioned in Despatches (MID), published in the London Gazette 18 December 1917, in the rank of Serjeant. Williams was finally discharged to reserve on demobilisation on 21 April 1919.
He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal Published in the London Gazette 1 January 1919: ‘For valuable service rendered with British Forces in Italy.’
Subsequently enlisting in the Royal Air Force on 10 February 1920 and employed as Clerk ‘General’ (Typist), Williams was posted to ‘M’ Section, India on 4 May 1920.
He was admitted seriously ill at Station Hospital, Lahore with Sandfly Fever on 23 July 1920 and reported as dangerously ill the following month, he died at Lahore, aged 30, from Addison’s Disease on 27 September 1920.
340730 Aircraftman Fred Morris Williams is commemorated on the Karachi War 1914 – 1918 Memorial.
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