Private William Thomas Williams, son of Mr David Williams, of Waitaki South, who returned to New Zealand early in January, died in the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday. The late Private Williams left with the 19th Reinforcements, in the Lewis machine-gun section, and took part in the battle of Messines, and many other engagements, receiving a few slight wounds. During one of these he was gassed, and a complication of troubles set in, which caused his return to New Zealand. He enlisted before he was 18 years of age, celebrating his 18th in Wellington three days before he sailed. Since his return he has been an inmate of the Dunedin Hospital undergoing treatment. He was born at Kakanui and educated at the Waitaki Bridge and Waitaki Boys' High Schools, where he took an active part in sports, being a good athlete. Private Williams was 19 years of age at the time of his death. -Oamaru Mail, 11/3/1918.
ROLL OF HONOR.
WILLIAMS. — On March 9th, 1918, at Dunedin, 32672 Private William Thomas (19th Reinforcements), dearly beloved eldest son of David and Janet Williams, of Waitaki, aged 19 years.
"His is the loveliest fate of all who gives to death a glad and lovely youth."
The friends of David and Janet Williams are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of their late son Private William Thomas Williams, which will leave the Drill Hall, Oamaru, on Wednesday, the 13th instant, at 1 o'clock p.m., for Oamaru Cemetery.
A. S. Archer & Co., 324 Undertakers, Dunedin. -Oamaru Mail, 11/3/1918.
Private William Thomas Williams, late of "D" Company, Otago Infantry Battalion, died in the Plunket Ward of the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday afternoon. The late soldier, who was a son of Mr David. Williams, of Waitaki South, and a nephew of Mr W, F. Williams, of Glenavy, left New Zealand with the 10th Reinforcements. He was invalided home on board the Marama, arriving on the 28th December, 1917. The funeral, which will be military, will take place to-morrow. The cortege will leave the Drill Hall at 1 p.m. The body is to be borne on a gun carriage, which will be preceded by the band of the Tenth Regiment. Returned soldiers will act as pall-bearers. The procession will be composed of returned men and officers and Territorials. At the graveside a firing party of men who have seen service will perform the last rites due to a soldier whose life has been given for his country. -North Otago Times, 12/3/1918.
Private William Williams was admitted to Codford Hospital, London, in March, 1917, suffering from lobar pneumonia caused, according to his army record "by exposure to wet and cold and bacterial infection while on active service."
Eight months later his condition had improved enough for him to be invalided home. He died in Dunedin Hospital of meningitis, associated with, and possibly caused by, tuberculosis.
Oamaru Cemetery.
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