William Charles Williams

Who was William Charles Williams?

William Charles Williams VC was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Williams was born in Stanton Lacy in Shropshire, England, but raised in Chepstow, Wales. He joined the Boys Service in Portsmouth in 1895 and was promoted to the boys' first class in 1896, Seaman in 1898 and Able Seaman in 1901. He joined the Royal Navy as a young sailor, but left in 1910, joining the Royal Naval Reserve and working in the police force and in a steel works in Newport. He rejoined the Navy in 1914 on being mobilised at the start of the First World War. During his career, he served on eighteen different ships, some more than once.

He was 34 years old when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. On 25 April 1915 during the landing on V Beach, Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, Williams, with three other men was assisting the commander of their ship, HMS River Clyde at the work of securing the lighters. He held on to a rope for over an hour, standing chest deep in the sea, under continuous enemy fire. He was eventually dangerously wounded and later killed by a shell whilst his rescue was being effected by the commander who described him as the bravest sailor he had ever met.