King's South Africa Medal 1901-1902. With 2 x clasps 'South Africa 1901' & 'South Africa 1902' (5762 Pte R. Williams. Rifle Brigade.)

Killed-in-Action: Battle of Aubers Ridge, France, 9 May 1915. As B/99 Private Robert William Williams 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. At the time of his death he was 46 years of age

The body of Robert William Williams - who is recorded as the son of Robert and Jane Williams - was never recovered from the battlefield, however the memory of his life, services and supreme sacrifice, is commemorated in perpetuity by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, on a panel on the Ploegsteert Memorial, located in the Flanders region of Belgium

After his death in action, his personal effects & accounts were sent to his nominated next of kin, his elder brother James Arnold Williams (a Grocer, in Ormskirk, Lancashire, England). Reference National Army Museum; Chelsea, London, England; Soldiers' Effects Records, 1901-60; NAM Accession Number:
1991-02-333; Record Number Ranges: 250001-251500; Reference: 119

2nd Rifle Brigade at Battle of Aubers Ridge: On 9 May 1915, the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade fought at the Battle of Aubers Ridge (near Fromelles and Richebourg in northern France) serving as part of 24th Brigade, 8th Division. The battalion was tasked with spearheading the initial assault on the German lines at Rouges Bancs, where 2/RB faced devastating machine-gun and artillery fire. The attack proved to be a costly and ultimately futile attempt to break through, with the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade suffering catastrophic losses, that were estimated to be 654 x casualties (killed, mortally wounded, wounded and missing) during the action

Medal Verification: In addition to the KSA with 2 x dated 'South Africa' clasps, the recipient Robert William Williams had prior been awarded a companion QSA medal with 4 x clasps, per the respective campaign medal rolls of 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade. Later still he served in the Great War and qualified for 3 x Great War medals. All of the recipients confirmed medal and clasps entitlements are referenced per below sources: 

- QSA clasps 'C.C', 'Transvaal' & 'LN': WO 100/210. The roll signed, Waterval, South Africa, 9 July 1901
- QSA clasp only 'Orange Free State': WO 100/210. Supplementary page dated, Portsmouth, 12/01/1903
- KSA Medal. With 2 x dated SA clasps: WO 100/348 roll dated Portsmouth, England.1 November  1902
- 1914-15 Star: WO 329/2820.Shown as disembarked in France on 11 December 1914
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 329/1716. Shown as B/99 Private 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 329/1716. Shown as B/99 Private 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade

Robert William Williams son of  Robert Williams (described as a 'Sailor' & 'Draper' in 1871) and Jane Williams (nee Arnold) was a native of Ormskirk, Lancashire, England, where he was born in 1869. Robert's military service - he served in at least 4 x different periods - was firstly with the Kings Royal Rifle Corps No. 5591 - and then 3 x different enlistments with the Rifle Brigade, serving under a total 4 x different regimental numbers. His 3 x enlistments with the Rifle Brigade were: No.5974 enlisted 29/09/1890 served 267 days; No.5762 enlisted 14/07/1898 served 4 years & 276 days and lastly as B/99 enlisted in 1914. At the time of his 'third' enlistment in the British Army, he signed-up at Liverpool, England on 14 April 1898. The following day he joined Regimental Depot of the Rifle Brigade at Gosport, Hampshire, England, for completion of his basic training. His regimental number allocated to him was 5762. On 8 July 1899, he was posted to the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade. On 21 July 1899, he was appointed 'Pioneer'. Robert served overseas on active service during the South African War, having embarked for South Africa on 28 October 1899. By the time he took his third - but not final - discharge from the British Army on 14 January 1903, he had served a total of 4 years 276 days with 'The Colours' during his 'Third Enlistment'

Following the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, Robert re-joined the British Army, and was posted to his old corps, in which he was allocated the regimental number B/99 and posted to serve with 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. He is recorded to have disembarked in France on 11 December 1914. Private Robert William Williams 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade was subsequently 'Killed-in-Action' at the Battle of Aubers Ridge, 9 May 1915

The recipient has 3 x extant sets of service papers for the Victorian era extant & accessible at The National Archives

Condition: About VF

Code: 26073