Honouring bravery of VC war hero Williams
A COMMEMORATION stone has been unveiled in Amlwch to honour the town’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross.
On Wednesday June 7, 100 years to the day since seaman William Williams showed exceptional bravery in the face of the enemy, his descendents and local dignitaries were on hand to remember him.
William Williams was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the sinking of a German U-boat during the First World War. The VC is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry that can be awarded to a member of the British and Commonwealth armed forces.
The ceremony was part of a centenary commemoration scheme by the Department for Communities and Local Government in London to honour the gallantry of the 628 recipients awarded Victoria Crosses during WWI.
William was born in 6 Lon Wen, Amlwch Port in 1890. The son of a fisherman, he followed his father’s footsteps and went to sea. Before the Great War, he’d sailed to many ports around the world on the very boats he’d helped build at Amlwch Port.
During the Great War the British Royal Navy were battling with the “U-boat menace”, a German submarine tactic intended to cut off supplies to Great Britain by targeting merchant navy ships.
To counter these attacks, the Royal Navy used Q-ships, disguised as merchant navy ships. They would lure German U-boats to attack, and then ferociously counter attack them with their concealed heavy weaponry.
By June 7th 1917, William was serving aboard the HMS Pargust, one such Q-ship, in the Atlantic Ocean.
His ship was torpedoed and a small “panic party” abandoned the Pargust to give the impression that she was unmanned and lure the enemy into close range for an attack by the hidden crew still on board.
However, after being damaged by the torpedo, weights holding the disguised gun port had come loose and it was close to being exposed. William Williams knew that if the German U-boat had seen an exposed gun port, their cover would be blown, and they would surely be torpedoed again immediately.
He showed great presence of mind and held the heavy gun port in place for some 30 minutes until the U-boat surfaced.
At the vital moment, Commander Gorden Campbell VC gave the order to open fire and the German submarine was destroyed and sank.
HMS Pargust was the first ship to receive the Victoria Cross for collective gallantry under Rule 13 by King George V. William Williams was unanimously chosen by his crew mates to receive the VC due to his bravery that day.
Anglesey County Council Chairman, Richard Owain Jones, unveiled the memorial stone.
He said, “Many young men from Amlwch and Anglesey fought in the First World War and it’s extremely important that we remember and honour their sacrifice.
“William Williams gallantly served his country and his actions helped save the lives of those aboard the HMS Pargust.
“We’re proud to say he was from Amlwch and pleased to honour him with a new centenary commemoration stone.”