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Brigadier-General Victor Arthur Seymour Williams

Individual attestation record images are not available for this person.

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PERSONAL INFORMATION

Place of birth:
Next of kin: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Marital status: no data

MILITARY INFORMATION

Regimental number: NA
Highest Rank: Brigadier-General
Rank detail
  1. Brigadier-General (British Army).
  2. Colonel, 1st Canadian Division (Army).
Degree of service: Europe
Survived war: yes
Battle wounded/killed: Wounded at Mount Sorrel June 2,1916

RESEARCH INFORMATION

LAC ID: 317483
Service file: B10407-S034
Uploader's Notes:

Attached to 1st Canadian Division Headquarters as General Camp Commandant.

RCR War Diaries note that he was wounded on June 1, 1916 and was taken prisoner.

Toronto Evening Telegram August 14, 1916 - Previously Reported Prisoner of War, now Reported Discharged from Hospital, Transferred to Husarance Nerene, Drefeld

The Globe of Toronto May1,1917 has an article on his safe arrival in Switzerland after his capture at Zillebeke.

From Wikipaedia:

General Arthur Victor Seymour Williams (1867 - December 12, 1949), was a Canadian general in the First World War and later the Commissioner of Police for the Province of Ontario.

Arthur Williams was born at Port Hope, Ontario in 1867, the son of Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams, by his wife Emily, daughter of Benjamin Seymour. After attending Trinity College he entered the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston in 1884. Two years into his studies he was withdrawn from the college at his parent’s request and entered service in the Northwest Mounted Police. The following year he became an inspector. He transferred to the Mounted Infantry in 1889 and eventually took a commission with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in 1893. In 1899 he went to South Africa, serving with the Canadian Mounted Rifles during the South African War.

Williams was promoted to Brevet Colonel for his overseas service and made Commandant of the Royal School of Cavalry in Toronto. In 1907 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Dragoons and Inspector of Cavalry for the Dominion of Canada. In 1911 he commanded the mounted units at the Coronation of King George V. From 1912 to 1914 he was Adjutant General at Ottawa. He commanded Valcartier Camp, Quebec, during the mobilization of the 1st Canadian Division, and accompanied the contingent overseas. During the war he served on the general staffs of Field Marshal Sir John French and the 2nd and 3rd British Army Corps. In early 1916 he took command of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, but was severely wounded and taken prisoner during the Battle of Sanctuary Wood in June.

After the war he commanded military districts in Kingston and Toronto, before becoming the Commissioner of Police for the Province of Ontario. He died in Toronto on December 12th, 1949. He was buried in the St. John's Cemetery in Port Hope, Ontario.

Uploader's Research notes: Attestation Papers not available on-line. [Colonel Army Canadian Infantry attached 1st Canadian Division Brigadier Army British Infantry ]

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Date added: 2006-11-20
Last modified: 2012-11-10