Aubrey Williams (British Army officer)

Major General Aubrey Ellis Williams CBE, DSO & Bar, MC (19 May 1888 – 25 March 1977) was a senior British Army officer.

Aubrey Williams
Born	19 May 1888
Died	25 March 1977
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Major General
Commands held	160th (Welsh) Brigade 38th (Welsh) Division
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order & Bar Military Cross

Military career

Williams was commissioned into the South Wales Borderers on 9 October 1907.[1] After seeing action in the Gallipoli campaign,[2] he served as general staff officer with 30th Division on the Western Front earning recognition with his appointment as a companion of the Distinguished Service Order during the First World War.[3][4]

Williams also saw action during the Waziristan campaign in late 1937 earning him a bar to his DSO in August 1938.[5]

He became commander of the 160th (Welsh) Brigade in February 1939[6] and, in April 1940, went with his brigade to Northern Ireland where the brigade was mainly involved in anti-invasion duties and exercises training to repel a potential German invasion of Northern Ireland.[7] He became General Officer Commanding 38th (Welsh) Division in the UK in May 1940 before retiring in October 1940.[6]

In retirement he was local President of the Royal British Legion on the Isle of Wight.[2]

References

1. "No. 28067". The London Gazette. 8 October 1907. p. 6747.
2. "Aubrey Williams". Isle of Wight Historical Society. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
3. "No. 31183". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 February 1919. p. 2365.
4. "No. 31480". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 July 1919. p. 9683.
5. "No. 34542". The London Gazette. 16 August 1938. p. 5286.
6. "Williams, Aubrey Ellis". Generals.dk. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
7. "2nd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment". Wartime NI. Retrieved 27 May 2020.