Frederick George Williams

Rank:

Gunner

Regimental number:

42761

Unit at enlistment:

3rd Brigade C.F.A., Ammunition Column

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Brantford, Ontario

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Cheshire

Birth city:

Chester

Address at enlistment:

23 Glanville Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

23 Glanville Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Labourer

Employer:

Verity Plow Co.

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX August 15, 1916

Local Boxer in Casualties – Pte. Fred Williams in French Hospital with Fractured Leg

The sad news was received by Mrs. Williams, 23 Glanville Avenue, of the wounding of her son Gunner Frederick George Williams, who is in the hospital in France with a fractured leg. “Freddie” was well known here where he gained considerable fame as a boxer. He was a single man, and enlisted here with the 32nd Battery. Two brothers, Albert and William, are on active service in the trenches.

BX September 9, 1914

Complaints about Food – Battery Men at Valcartier Say They Are Not Getting Enough To Eat

All is not dill pickles and candy with the members of the 32nd Battery at Valcartier, according to a letter received by The Expositor from Freddie Williams, the light weight boxer of this city, who went down with the contingent from Brantford. He states that the meals have been bad with them, and that they have been switched around so much that the greater number have had their names transferred to other sections, and those left are endeavoring to join either the Dufferin Rifles or the 25th Brant Dragoons His letter is as follows:

3rd Brigade, Amm. Col.
Valcartier Camp, P.Q.

Just a few lines, hoping that you are quite well, as we are not. We are not getting enough to eat and we are, or have been, I should say, moved from pillar to post. The best part of the 32nd Battery has left now, owing to the men getting tired of it and transferring to other batteries. Out of 38 there are only about 14 left. Bolton has gone to the R.C. Dragoons, and the rest to the R.C. Horse Artillery, and eight of us who are left are going down tonight to try and get transferred to the 38th Duffs, or the 25th Brants, for they are certainly treating us rotten. We all know that we have to rough it in the army, but not like we are doing here. We have not had one decent meal since we came into camp and we landed one week today (Sunday). I guess you have heard about them trying to wreck our train at Smith Falls by pushing a rail across the lines. The engine pushed it off all right. The Duke was here today, having a review after church parade, and it rained to beat the Dutch. It has done that for six out of eight days. It started on Saturday and it has rained very nearly every day since. We were treated fine by the Hamilton bunch along with the 33rd Battery and I must say that we have been treated like gentlemen by Lieuts [?] and Dunlop of the 32nd.

I am wet through this being the second or third time in a week. There were two rejected and expect to leave for Brantford about Wednesday. We haven’t had any clothes given us yet.

Freddie Williams

BX September 17, 1914

Williams Is Now Satisfied – Is Becoming Accustomed to Camp Life and Conditions Have Greatly Improved

Driver Freddie Williams, of this city, who went to Valcartier with the battery reports that they are now getting plenty of “grub” and of excellent quality, they now having an officer to watch over their interests, while the cooks have been changed. Williams in writing to The Expositor says:

September 14, 1914
Monday
Valcartier Camp

We are all well here. I’m still with the battery owing to the others being filled up and over strength. We are getting pretty good “grub” now and they have changed the cooks and we have now nothing to grumble about. The officers are now looking after the men’s rations and seeing that they get their food. We had four fire alarm calls last night, one for a fire which we didn’t see and the other 3 calls for a stampede of 100 horses from a Western battery or cavalry. We had to turn out because of our own horses. They sound the fire call for this and it is taken up right down the line. The remainder of the battery that was not inoculated the other day was done last Saturday. We are having a review today by the Duke of Connaught and expect to leave for England about Friday. We are expecting to march to Quebec which is a distance of 17 miles. We were given a cheque for $50 from Massey-Harris Co. for all employees who worked there at the time the war started and it came in pretty useful, believe me.

Yours truly,
Fred Williams

BX May 20, 1915

With Brantford Boys at Langemarck – Interesting Letters Received From Local Men Now at the Front Telling of the Havoc Wrought in the Ranks of Allies By Gas Bombs

The following letter has been received by Mr. R. 148 Wellington Street, from his friend Fred, who is with the 3rd Artillery Brigade, Ammunition Column of the First Canadian Contingent in France.

April 30, 1915

Dear Dick,

I guess you have seen where we were in a nice scrap, and some scrap too, for this isn’t WAR, its MURDER, and nothing else. It’s chronic when the Germans attack us. We were just finished having our supper and weren’t aware of anything till we saw some of the French coming up to us for water, as they were choking with the gas the Germans were firing. We could smell it too. It makes one’s eyes smart, not half either, and we were congratulated on our work that night, as we had to save four batteries of artillery that had got lost in the retreat, and we did it too. Believe me, Dick; I’ve had all I want. I thought that there wouldn’t be much excitement in the ammunition column, so I put in a transfer and my captain refused it, I’m glad, too. I got all I ever want – more than I bargained for. We have to run the gauntlet of the German artillery through a town that they are bombarding, and right well we are doing it, for we have had up to now only six wounded and four accidents through horses getting shot from under them and falling down. One place we go though they call “Devil’s Corner,” and another “Jack Johnson Avenue” because of the Germans putting the shells into those places. I had a narrow escape the other day as a “Jack Johnson” lit right between my wagon and the next one, and if they had only waited another half minute I don’t think that I would be writing this, but, I am glad to say, I am safe and sound up to now. F. Simmons is in hospital at St. Nazaire – ever since we landed in France. I don’t know what’s up with him.

Fred.

BX June 24, 1915

Seven Horses Were Killed – Pte. Fred Williams Tells of Narrow Escape He Had at the Front

That he had had seven horses shot under him was the information given by Pte. Freddie Williams of this city, who went with the First Contingent from the 32nd Battery of this city, with the First Canadian Expeditionary Force. Freddie, who is well-known in Canada as a lightweight boxer, stated that the mortality among the horses was very heavy, artillery horses’ lives being placed at a duration of but 4 ½ days. He further stated up with the fighting, and was of the opinion that to date it was anybody’s fight.

He also gave the information in his letter that William Kerr, son of High County Constable Frederick Kerr, had recovered from his wounds and was now back on the firing line.

BX September 16, 1918

In an additional list of casualties issued at Ottawa this morning, Frederick George Williams Brantford is reported wounded. Perly Alexander Misener, a Harrisburg boy with the Mounted Rifles is also reported wounded.

BX September 16, 1918

Mr. A. Williams, 23 Glanville Avenue, has received official word that his son, Private Frederick George Williams had been wounded with gunshot in the right leg, which was fractured. Private Williams left Brantford as a gunner with E. Battery from the 32nd Battery under Col. E.C. Ashton. He was one of the best known of the first contingents to leave Brantford, he being the champion lightweight boxer of Canada. While in uniform he kept up his reputation, winning with ease the Canadian military championship. He was a most likeable young man, and his many friends here will hope that his fractured leg will not necessitate his retirement from the amateur ring. He had been previously wounded, about a year ago. His brother won his class in the Canadian military championships.

BX September 19, 1918

In the official list of casualties issued from Ottawa at noon today the following district casualties are reported: Wounded Frederick George Williams, Brantford. Gassed, J. Hill, Ohsweken.

BX November 30, 1918

Pte. Williams Improving

Word has been received by Mrs. Williams, 23 Glanville Avenue that her son, Fred Williams who was badly wounded in the back, and his right leg badly fractured, is improving nicely. He is in hospital in England and went under a severe operation on his leg to have pieces of shrapnel taken out. He is now going around on crutches and is expected to return shortly. Mrs. Williams has another son, William, at the front, who is getting along nicely and another son, Albert, who has just been discharged, after being in hospital nine months. Freddie is the well known lightweight boxer.

BX January 27, 1962

Frederick George Williams

Frederick George Williams, 73, of 23 Glanville Avenue, died Friday at the Toronto Sunnybrook Hospital. Born in England a son of the late Albert and Annie Williams, he came to Canada in 1906 and had resided in Brantford since that time. He was a postal clerk at the Brantford Post Office for more than 30 years before his retirement in 1956. Mr. Williams was a veteran of the First World War in which he served in England and France with the first contingent RCA. He was a member of St. Jude’s Anglican Church. Surviving besides his wife, the former Bertha Branton, are two daughters, Mrs. D.H. (Ethel) Bowen of Edmonton, Alta., and Mrs. Roger (Shirley) Cameron of Chatham, N.B.; three sons, James of Brantford, Cpl. Kenneth, of Centralia, Ont., and LAC Frederick Jr., of Edmonton, Alta.; a brother William, and a sister, Mrs. Campbell (Ethel) Herron, both of Branford; 16 grandchildren. Mr. Williams is at the McCleister Funeral Home for service Tuesday at 2 p.m. with Rev. R.A.E. Ruch, of St. Jude’s Anglican Church officiating. Interment will be in Mount Hope.