4th Battalion, Australian Infantry (Australian Army)
Died:
08/05/1917 (Died of Illness)
Age:
42
Summary
Samuel Williamson was a son of William and Annie Williamson. Samuel was born in Killyman, Dungannon, about 1875. Private Samuel Williamson served for 20 years in the British Army before he took his discharge and emigrated to Australia prior to the war. Corporal Samuel Williamson was wounded at the Dardanelles at Gallipoli in Turkey. Corporal Samuel Williamson died of illness on 8th May 1917. He is buried in Durrington Cemetery, near Andover in Wiltshire, England.
Further Information
Samuel Williamson was a son of William and Annie Williamson. Samuel was born in Killyman, Dungannon, about 1875.
Samuel went to school in Ballynakelly, Coalisland.
Private Samuel Williamson served for 20 years in the British Army with the Royal Garrison Artillery. He took his discharge from Bombay and emigrated to Australia prior to the war.
In Australia, Samuel Williamson worked as an iron dresser. An Iron Dresser, aka fettler, was a general term covering all foundry workers engaged in removing adherent sand from castings and chipping off any irregularities
1914
Samuel Williamson enlisted in Randwick, New South Wales with the 4th Australian Infantry at the outbreak of the war on 29th August 1914.
1915-16
Corporal Samuel Williamson landed at the Dardanelles in Turkey with the first Australian Forces. He was wounded twice, and afterwards served in France
On 5th November 1915 he was promoted to temporary corporal.
1917
Corporal Samuel Williamson had returned to Ballynakelly on leave only a few weeks before he died. He was a member of the Bush Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 163 and spent an evening in Ballynakelly Orange Hall.
Corporal Samuel Williamson died from heart failure and syphilis on 8th May 1917 at Fargo Military Hospital, Rollestone, Wiltshire. His remains were interred in Durrington cemetery with military honours.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 17 May 1917
Mr William James Williamson, Drumkee, Coalisland, has received intimation of the death of his brother, Corporal Samuel Williamson, of the Australian Imperial Forces, who died on 9th May from hear failure at Fargo Military Hospital, Rollestone, Wiltshire. His remains were interred in Durrington cemetery with military honours. He had served for 21 years in the Army, and took his discharge from Bombay, and emigrated to Australia, where at the outbreak of the war he volunteered, and landed at the Dardanelles with the first Australian Forces, was wounded twice, and afterwards served in France. He was at his home a few weeks ago, and looked remarkably well, and spent a very pleasant night in Ballynakelly Orange Hall, amongst his friends and neighbours, and got a very hearty reception. He was a member of the Bush Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 163, the members of which deeply regret the loss of such a gallant soldier and esteemed member.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 17th May 1917:
Corporal Samuel Williamson, Australian Infantry, died of heart failure, Ballynakelly, Coalisland.
Next of kin
Samuel listed his brother in William James Williamson Drumkee, Coalisland Co Tyrone. He also named his next of kin in his attestation documents as M Williamson, Queen’s Hotel, Ontario, Canada.
Memorials
Corporal Samuel Williamson is buried in Durrington Cemetery, near Andover in Wiltshire, England. Below are photos of his original wooden grave marker and his current stone headstone
Corporal Samuel Williamson is listed on the Australian War Memorial in Durrington Cemetery.
Corporal Samuel Williamson is listed on the Australian War Memorial in Sydney.
The CWGC lists Corporal Samuel Williamson as the son of William and Annie Williamson, of Drumkee, Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, Ireland
