Albert Williamson - Regimental number 4249 - 54th Battalion

[Sue-Ellen Nash]

Born in the NSW town of Canowindra , Albert Williamson was the tenth child of Joseph and Cecilia Williamson. A 22 year-old labourer he was living at Rose Villa with his mother, his father having passed away, when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Cootamundra in August 1915.

Originally assigned to the 2nd battalion he was transferred to the newly created 54th battalion when he arrived in Egypt , moving to the Suez Canal and proceeding to undertake further training. After moving with his battalion to France in June onboard the Caledonian he proceeded to billets in Northern France .

The 54th took part in the allied attacks on Fromelles as one of the attacking battalions of the 14th brigade. Albert, having reached the German lines was killed during the night, his body recovered by the Germans and buried in the mass grave at Pheasant Wood.

 

Private Williamson’s Service Record gives no details of his death except that he was reported missing on 21^st July 1916 and a Court of Inquiry nearly twelve months later resulted in an entry officially listing him as killed in action on 20^th July 1916. Importantly Private Williamson’s Service Record does contain the original German ‘death voucher’ which was completed by the German Army when Private Williamson was buried and was returned with his identification tags to the Australian Army via the German Red Cross. A photograph of the original document can be seen in the Service Record of Private Albert Williamson available on line at the National Archives of Australia.

 

The newspaper clipping above was printed in the Sydney Mail on 20^th August 1919. In the feature Mrs Cecilia Williamson, 3 years after the Battle of Fromelles, is seeking to find more information on how her son, the 10^th of her 13 children, had died. It is not known if she received any further details from any other soldiers.

[JANE HALLOWS (NEE WILLIAMSON)]

Ian I recently went out to the family gravesite at Canowindra. I came across graves that depicted your last name. Emma Wilcox who passed away 31.3.14 aged 24 months, Frederick Brown who passed away 20.5.1892, Leo Roy Brown who passed away 25.5.1895, Valdis Guy Brown who passed away 9.9.1899, Thomas Christopher Brown Born 7.5.1864 and died 18.2.1932 and Clara Ellen Brown died 1.12.1933 aged 49. Are these people direct descendants of yours?

[Ian Wilcox]

Hi Jane

Hope you enjoyed Canowindra, it is a great little town, we are regularly there, as the farm is still in the family. EmmaWilcox is my cousin Allen's daughter who tragically died this year aged 24years. I have not checked the family tree for the names you mentioned but this is certainly a brown Williamson wilcox cemetery. Our email address is [e-mail] if you need to contact us

Cheers Philippa for Ian

[JANE HALLOWS (NEE WILLIAMSON)]

It is good to finally meet someone that is related to me. I am so excited. Can you tell me if the homestead Rose Villa is still standing? I spoke to my Aunty and she said that she remembers her Dad, Clarence William Williamson, my grandfather saying that he use to play on Narang Mountain. He wasn't living out there for very long as his Dad passed away when my grandfather was young. Thanks for your email address, my email is [e-mail]. 

To give you a little background on my family ties, my maiden name is Williamson, My grandfather (as noted above) was the son of Joseph Harold Williamson who married Clarissa Susan Copson. Joseph Harold's father was Joseph Williamson who married Cecilia Brown. The picture shown below is my direct family. I have other photo's which once downloaded will send them to you. Please stay in touch, where abouts do you live? I am currently living near Gosford (on the Central Coast) of NSW.

[Jonathan Williamson]

Hi, I've tried to reply a couple of times before, maybe it will work this time.

I’m a distant Williamson cousin. I was brought up near Templepatrick in County Antrim where the family lived for several generations. My brothers and sister still live in County Antrim, but I moved to England when I married, and we have made our home in the West Country.

 

My Great, Great Grandfather John Williamson was a brother of Andrew and William who emigrated to New South Wales, and Thomas, who emigrated to Oregon, USA. Albert was a grandson of William, so I don't know what that makes my relationship, other than a distant cousin interested in Family History!

Out of curiosity, when I was in the Old Presbyterian Church in Templepatrick, where the family used to worship, there was a John Williamson listed on the war memorial as having served in the Australian Army in WW1. I haven’t managed to track down his history yet, I really need a day or two in the records office next time I’m in Northern Ireland.

We have visited some of the battlefields where my Grandfather served from 1914 - 1916, and hope to visit Fromelles in the near future as well.

[JANE HALLOWS (NEE WILLIAMSON)]

Hi Jonathan I have done some more investigating and have found ties with family in Templepatrick. As soon as I can I will forward you a copy of the Williamson family tree. You might be able to fill in some blanks for me. My email is [e-mail]. As you probably are aware I currently live in Australia. Will keep in touch as information comes available. Love from Jane Hallows (nee Williamson)

[JANE HALLOWS (NEE WILLIAMSON)]

Hi Jonathon, hope this message finds you well. I realise that I haven't replied to your message for some time.
My direct line is John Williamson born 5 Feb 1780 in Tyrone, Northern Ireland and died 17 Jun 1867. He married Hanna Birkmyre. They had 9 children. They are my great great great great grandparents.

Their 6th child William Crothers Williamson, my great great great grandfather, born in Ireland on 24 May 1817, travelled to Australia and arrived 23 Oct 1841 under the assisted passage scheme. He married Elizabeth Charters 2 Feb 1843. They had 9 children.

Their 2nd child was Joseph Williamson my great great grandfather born 18th May 1845 in Bulgonia, New South Wales. He married on 18 Sep 1873 in Carcoar, New South Wales. They had 14 children.

The eldest child was my great grandfather, Joseph Harold Williamson born 14 Jul 1874 in Nyrang Creek, Canowindra, New South Wales. Married Clarrisa Susan Copson in 1898 in Cowra, New South Wales. They had 5 children.

Their 3rd child Clarence William Williamson was my grandfather born 2 Feb 1902 in Cowra, New South Wales. He married Elvin Wooster Byrnes in 1929 in Ryde, Sydney, New South Wales. In 1908 his father lost his life in Grenfell, near Cowra, in a horse riding accident. In later years the 3 eldest children were dismissed from the family home and the mother remarried. They had 2 children.

My Aunty - June Beverley Williamson born 9 Sep 1930 in Eastwood, Sydney, New South Wales.
My Dad - Donald Graeme Williamson born 28th July 1937 in Eastwood, Sydney, New South Wales and died 14 May 2014 in Port Kennedy, Western Australia. Initially married my Mum on 15th Sep 1962 and divorced in Sep 1976. Dad remarried twice with both passing. Although no children resulted in these marriages.
Mum and Dad had 2 children

Me - Jane Hallows born 5 July 1963 in Sydney, New South Wales. Married Robert Douglas Hallows on 3 Oct 1987 in Woy Woy, New South Wales. We have 2 children - Matthew Robert Hallows born 20 Aug 1988 in Gosford, New South Wales & -Amanda Jane Hallows born 19 Nov 1992 at North Gosford, New South Wales.
My brother Jason Robert Williamson was born on 25 Sep 1970 at Caringbah/Sutherland hospital, New South Wales. He has no children, but a very supported partner.

Hope this makes sense.

[Jonathan Williamson]

Hello Jane,

Yes, I am also descended from John Williamson and Hannah Birkmyre. They were my Great great great grandparentsP1010122.JPG This is the family grave in the old graveyard in Templepatrick.

My Great-Grandfather David worked in different places all over Ireland when it was still one country, and eventually settled and started a building firm that my Grandfather Robert and his brothers all worked in until the late 1940's /early 50's.

My Dad was a Presbyterian minister, and when I was born he was in charge of the churches of Cobh and Aghada in Co Cork. He later moved to Greystones in Co Wicklow, and then in 1957, back to Muckamore, in Co Antrim, about 4 miles from Templepatrick. I grew up there, and my brothers and sister still live in Co Antrim. My sister still lives in what was our family home in my late teens.

Another distant cousin from Seattle has done a lot of research further back into the family, and has traced it back to a Quaker settlement in Co Armagh. One of the early family members appears to have had his will witnessed by George Fox, one of the founders of the Society of Friends, as they are correctly known. 

I have a reasonable family tree going back to John Williamson and Hannah Birkmyre. I can email a gedcom file to you if you are interested.

Best Wishes

Jonathan

[JENNIN]

Hi,

I am related to Henry Alfred Cressy  killed on July 19, 1916  in Fromelles.

I am trying to trace Henry Cressy's last days in France.

we have already been able to retrace his journey from Alexandria onboard the Caledonia, and then from Marseilles on the 29th June by train. He partly described his journey that we would like to complete.

Thanking you for your help.

Kind regards.

Alain Jennin 

[JANE HALLOWS (NEE WILLIAMSON)]

Hi Jonathan,

I would love to love to obtain a link to our family tree that goes back to John Williamson and Hannah Birkmyre. I just realised that I hadn't replied to your last message. My email is still the same [e-mail]

Look forward to hearing from you

Regards Jane xx

Jonathan Williamson said:

Hello Jane,

Yes, I am also descended from John Williamson and Hannah Birkmyre. They were my Great great great grandparentsP1010122.JPG This is the family grave in the old graveyard in Templepatrick.

My Great-Grandfather David worked in different places all over Ireland when it was still one country, and eventually settled and started a building firm that my Grandfather Robert and his brothers all worked in until the late 1940's /early 50's.

My Dad was a Presbyterian minister, and when I was born he was in charge of the churches of Cobh and Aghada in Co Cork. He later moved to Greystones in Co Wicklow, and then in 1957, back to Muckamore, in Co Antrim, about 4 miles from Templepatrick. I grew up there, and my brothers and sister still live in Co Antrim. My sister still lives in what was our family home in my late teens.

Another distant cousin from Seattle has done a lot of research further back into the family, and has traced it back to a Quaker settlement in Co Armagh. One of the early family members appears to have had his will witnessed by George Fox, one of the founders of the Society of Friends, as they are correctly known. 

I have a reasonable family tree going back to John Williamson and Hannah Birkmyre. I can email a gedcom file to you if you are interested.

Best Wishes

Jonathan