1198 Lance Corporal
Robert Glen (Glyn) Williams [KIA]
5th Australian Light Horse Regiment,
2nd Light Horse Brigade,
ANZAC Mounted Division
1st Australian Imperial Force 1914-1919
This file last updated 2 September, 2023 12:45

Introduction
Photograph - if available
The following information and chronological table are a summary of the entries from the World War One service record of Robert Glen (Glyn) Williams who was Killed in Action in the Middle East.
There are discrepancies concerning the name although there is no doubt that it is the same individual. A Robert Glyn Williams was married in Queensland in 1938, who may well be a nephew named after the deceased uncle.
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Birth Robert Glyn Williams, parents John Rupert Williams & Martha Fanny Thomas
[Qld BDM Ref 1896/C/1259] -
Enlist Robert Glen Williams [No 1198 5th Light Horse with John Rupert Williams as NOK]
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Grave Robert Glyn Williams [Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Beersheba War Cemetery
D 25, as a result of correspondence with siblings after the death of the parents] -
Death Robert Glen Williams [Qld BDM Ref 19222/F/9331]
The details of his training and early movement are extremely sparse, with no detail of his initial arrival and disembarkation in the Middle East, and subsequent to his joining the unit at Mudros on the island of Lemnos, the stepping off place for Gallipoli.
Prepared for Jack Lester by Clive Mitchell-Taylor, 18 Aug 2018.
Robert Williams was Killed in Action (KIA) on 8 Nov 1917 and buried at Beersheeba as noted above.
View Robert Willams' Service record, his , WW1 Nominal Roll entry and WW1 Embarkation Roll entry, or Certificate of Service. A short biography is here and the position of his name on the Roll of Honour in the Australian War Memorial is here. See also the booklet Where Australians Rest which was issued by the Australian Government to the next-of-kin of those who died in the service of their country.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Abbreviations or acronyms which have a dotted underline can be expanded by moving the cursor over the term - e.g. WIA. The cursor will be replaced by ? and the expanded abbreviation will be displayed. This is gradually being incorporated into the site, replacing the the current expansion of abbreviations. There may be a discernable delay of about a second before the expansion is first provided.
There is also a separate list of abbreviations which is available through the menu at the top of this page or the hyperlink here. Abbreviations are inconsistent, even within a single occurence where a term is abbreviated.
There are a number of sources for tracing abbreviations used in Australian and New Zealand service records. Those used when operating with the British or US forces can generally be found, especially in World War 1. Abbreviations used solely within Australia in WW2 are most difficult to trace, particularly when they are regional. Sometimes a 'best guess' is the only answer.
Duplicated Pages
Some of the service information may appear to be duplicated although individual occurrences are not in the same order and different abbreviations used. This occurs when the unit and Army records are amalgamated upon discharge or death in Service.
Service Numbers
Service numbers in WW1 were unique to the unit (e.g. Battalion) or Corps (e.g. Artillery). In WW2 Service Numbers were unique to the State in which they were allotted. For further information about identity numbers for Service personnel, see Regimental and Service Numbers
Dates of Occurrence and Reporting
The date of reporting an incident may be hours, days or months after the date on which incident actually occurred.
The original service record is amended only when the incident is reported which means that events are not necessarily recorded in in strict chronological sequence. This is the date shown on the left of the page of the original record, and also on the left in my transcription but readers should note that at times there may be no date of reporting at all, particularly when service personel are repatriated for discharge at the end of hostilities.
To assist the reader, when transcribing the military record I have done my best to record events in their chronological sequence. This is date is on the right of the page of the original record and also on the right in my transcription.
For clarity I have transcribed all dates into the format d MMM yyyy.
Memorial Plaques

Memorial Plaque - Thomas James Shepherd
Image courtesy of Mark Franzi, grand nephew of Thomas
Memorial Plaques were issued after the First World War to the next-of-kin of all British Empire service personnel who were killed as a result of war.
The plaques are 120mm in diameter, were cast in bronze and came to be know as the "Dead Man's Penny" because of the similarity in appearance to the much smaller penny coin.
1,355,00 plaques were issued, which used a total of 450 tons of bronze. 1,500 plaques were issued to commemorate women.
Carter Preston's winning design includes an image of Brittania holding a trident and standing with a lion. The designer's initials, E.CR,P,, appear above the front paw. In her outstretched left hand Britannia holds an olive wreath above the ansate [handled] tablet bearing the deceased's name cast in raised letters. The name does not include rank since there was to be no distiction between sacrifices made by different individuals.
Below the name table, to the right of the lion is an oak spray with acorns. Two dolphins swim around Britannia, symbolizing Britain's sea power, and at the bottom is a second lion tearing apart the German eagle.
The reverse is blank and the plaques were issued in a pack with a commemorative scroll from King George V, although sometimes the letter and scroll arrived first.
Enlistment Details
Service Number |
1198 |
Name |
Robert Glen Williams |
Born at |
Parish of Monal,Gladstone, Queensland |
Age |
19 years 3 months as at 4 March 1915 [Actual DOB 25 Dec 1895] |
Trade or Calling |
Labourer |
Marital Status |
Single |
Next of Kin |
Father - Mr John Rupert Williams |
Previous Military Service |
No |
Attested at |
Gympie, Qld |
Date of Enlistment |
4 Mar 1915 |
Height |
5 foot 5-7/8 inches [167.3cm] |
Weight |
125 pounds [56.8Kg] |
Chest |
32½ - 35½inches [82.5 - 90cm] |
Complexion |
Dark |
Eyes |
Light Brown |
Hair |
Black |
Religious Denomination |
Methodist |
Distinguishing Marks |
Scar above left wrist anterior |
Units |
8th Reinforcements to 5th Light Horse Regiment |
Chronological Events
Rank |
Description |
Date |
Remarks |
Private |
Enlisted, allocated to 8th Reinforcements for 5th Light Horse Regiment (5 LH). |
4 Mar 1915 |
|
Private |
Undergoing training at Enoggera |
4 Mar - 30 Apr 1915 |
|
Private |
Embarked from Brisbane on Her Majesty's Army Transport (HMAT) "KYARRA" (A55). |
10 Aug 1915 |
|
Private |
Taken on ration strength in Mudros, the seaport on the island of Lemnos where much of the Australian HQ and immediate hospital treatment for Gallipoli was placed. |
11 Dec 1915 |
There is no intervening detail of disembarkation and training in Egypt. At this time the reinforcements were under tentage on Mudros, as the decision to withdraw had already been made. They were to join the 5th Light Horse troops withdrawn from Gallipoli aboard ship. |
Private |
Disembarked at Alexandria from HMAT "ANSONIA". |
10 Jan 1916 |
|
Trooper |
Joined 5th Light Horse Regiment at Maadi |
10 Jan 1916 |
|
Trooper |
Marched out to Serepeum, ex Maadi The unit joined the forces defending the Suez Canal from a Turkish advance across the Sinai desert. It's role was mainly long-range patrolling but it was involved in several small engagements during August as the Turks retreated. |
23 Feb 1916 |
|
Trooper |
The ANZAC Mounted Division advanced into Palestine in late Dec 1916 and the 5th Light Horse regiment participated in all thre battles aimed at capturing the Turkish bastion of Gaza. |
|
|
Trooper |
Left for Imperial School of Instruction, Zeiteun |
28 Jul 1917 |
|
Trooper |
Rejoined unit |
8 Aug 1917 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Appointed Lance Corporal |
30 Oct 1917 |
|
Lance Corporal |
Killed in Action (KIA) and buried 15 yards from the tree in the village of Kirbet-um-Batieh, bearing 30 degrees, by Chaplain MS Mullins When the Turkish bastion of Gaza fell on 7 Nov 1917, the 5th was involved in the pursuit that followed, and it must have been in this pursuit that Lance Corporal Williams was killed. |
8 Nov 1917 |
Now buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Plot D, Grave 25 |
|
OC Australian Depot Stores despatches the effects of 11998 Tpr [sic] Williams R.G. 5th L.H. Regt. |
12 Apr 1918 |
|
|
Mother, Martha Fanny Williams writes an undated letter to Officer in Charge, Base Records, Melbourne, requesting the personal effects of her son. |
21 Jun 1918 |
The letter received on this date, while the effects are in transit. |
|
Base Records Office Melbourne despatches effects to next-of-kin, Mr J.R. Williams. |
27 Jun 1918 |
|
|
Father, J.R. Williams signs for effects of the late LCpl R.G. Williams,
despatched on "TOFUA", being:
|
1 Jul 1918 |
|
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Unheaded letter to Mr J.R. Williams advises that his son, the late Lance Corporal R.G. Williams, 5th Light Horse Regiment was buried in the Beersheba Military Cemetery, Palestine. |
26 Mar 1920 |
|
|
Proforma letter from Officer in Charge, Base Records, Melbourne, to Mr J.R. Williams. Dear Sir, May I invite your attention to the fact that a communication from the Defence Department in connexion [sic] with the erection of a permanent headstone on the last resting place of your son, the late No.1198, Lance corporal R.G. Williams, 5th Light Horse, has, as far as I am able to trace, not yet been replied to or returned. I am anclosing another blank and addressed envelope in case the original has been lost or mislaid, and shall e much obliged if you will have this filled in and returned to me in the course of the next few daays. The information is urgently needed to enable the work in connexion with the Beersheeba Cemetery to be completed. At present it is suspended on account of the lack of the above particulars. |
26 May 1921 |
|
|
Handwritten letter from sister, Gladys A. Williams, unaddressed, which may have led to the confusion which follows. Dear Sir, Please accept my apology for neglecting to foward the particulars you needed. My father died at the time the papers came & and they were laid aside & and forgotten. I thank you for so kindly writing again to remind me & I have filled in the papers to the best of my ability. Trusting that my forgetfullness has not in any way inconvenienced you in your work.
Again I thank you. |
7 Jun 1921 |
|
|
Typed copy of a letter from Gladys A. Dunmall, Barter Street, Surface Hill, Gympie. Dear Sir, In reply to your letter of the 29/1/22, requesting the name and address of the eldest surviving brother and sister of the late No.1198 L/Cpl R.G. Williams, 5th Light Horse Reg., the following are the addresses you require. My eldest brother is also a returned soldier.
His address is:- |
8 Feb 1922 |
|
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Letter from District Finance Officer to the Officer in Charge, Base Records Office, Melbourne advises that the attached communication from Mrs G.A. Dunmall is evidently intended for your office and same is therefore forwarded for favour of necessary action. |
17 Feb 1922 |
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Note from Officer in Charge Base Records Melbourne to Headquarters 1st District Base advices that the attached is evidently an answer to an enquiry from your office, as the British War Medal No.17011, of the deceased soldier was forwarded to you on 26.8.21. for disposal. |
3 Mar 1922 |
|
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Brother Rupert Pierce Morral Williams signs receipt for the Memorial Plaque of the late Lcpl R.G. Williams. |
2 Nov 1922 |
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Letter from Officer in Charge, Base Records, to Mr R.P.M. Williams (brother of the deceased): Dear Sir, At the request of the Imperial War Graves Commission I am forwarding herewith a circular order form relative to the purchase of copies of the register of the BEERSHEBA WAR CEMETERY, wherein the remains of your brother, the late No.1198 L/Cpl R.G. Williams, 5th Light Horse Regiment, are interred.
For your futher information it is desired to add that
the site of the late soldier's final resting place is
now officially registered as - |
1 Sep 1924 |
|
Medals and Dress Embellishments
1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920 and Victory Medal.
Two Long Service Stripes and three Overseas Service Chevrons.
Use the hyperlinks or scroll down to see further information on the badges.
5th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Light Horse Brigade
[Australian War Memorial Collection]
5TH LIGHT HORSE REGIMENT
NOT ENTITLED TO WEAR ANZAC 'A'
5th Light Horse hat Badge
The 5th Light Horse Regiment was raised in Brisbane in September 1914, entirely from men who had enlisted in Queensland, and became part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade. Sailing from Sydney on 21 December 1914, the regiment disembarked in Egypt on 1 February 1915.
The light horse were considered unsuitable for the initial operations at Gallipoli, but were subsequently deployed without their horses to reinforce the infantry. The 2nd Light Horse Brigade landed in late May attached to the 1st Australian Division. The 5th Light Horse played a defensive role for most of the campaign but was involved in several minor attacks. It left the peninsula on 20 December 1915.
Back in Egypt, the 2nd Light Horse Brigade became part of the ANZAC Mounted Division and in February 1916 joined the forces defending the Suez Canal from a Turkish advance across the Sinai Desert. The 5th Light Horse's main activity in the Sinai was long-range patrolling, but it was involved in several small engagements during August, as the Turks retreated after their defeat at Romani.
The ANZAC Mounted Division advanced into Palestine in late December 1916. The 5th's work predominantly continued to be patrols and raids until the advance stalled before the Turkish bastion of Gaza. The regiment participated in all three battles aimed at capturing the town, most notably the first abortive attempt on 27 March 1917. On this occasion the 5th attacked Gaza from the rear and was fighting its way through streets and gardens when ordered to withdraw.
With the fall of Gaza on 7 November 1917, the Turkish position in southern Palestine collapsed. The 5th was involved in the pursuit that followed, and then spent much of the first half of 1918 holding the west bank of the Jordan River. During this time it was involved in the Amman (24-27 February) and Es Salt (30 April-4 May) raids, both of which were tactical failures but helped to convince the Turks that the next offensive would be launched across the Jordan.
Instead, the offensive was launched along the coast in September 1918, with the 5th taking part in a subsidiary effort east of the Jordan. It attacked at Amman on 25 September, and on 29 September 4,500 Turks surrendered to just two squadrons from the regiment at Ziza. Turkey surrendered on 31 October 1918, but the 5th Light Horse was employed one last time to assist in putting down the Egyptian revolt of early 1919. It sailed for home on 28 June 1919.