Herbert Henry Williams (1917 - 1991)

Born 28 Dec 1917 in Saint Helens, Canterbury, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Joan Doris (Hanlon) Williams — married 23 Nov 1946 in Wellington, Nya Zeeland

Died 18 Sep 1991 at age 73 in Auckland, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Denis Williams [send private message]

Biography

Harry was born at Sydenham, Christchurch ^[1] while the family had been farming at Scargill, North Canterbury. Later the family lived in Gloucester Street, Christchurch. Harry's father died when Harry was 4 years old, and his mother died when he was 10. After their mother died in 1927, the children were looked after by grandmother Mary Murphy (formerly Deasy), who had been living in Dunedin. After grandmother Murphy died in 1931, the children were looked after by their Aunt Christina in the same house. However, this was unsuccessful, and the children left home and finished their early schooling in different orphanages. Harry was educated at St Bede's College in Christchurch ^[2]. His first job was with the newspaper “Christchurch Star”, where 2 of his brothers were already working, then he transferred to Auckland and the “Auckland Star”. A keen rower, he also enjoyed snooker.

Harry enlisted in the army at the outbreak of World War 2, was trained as a gunner, then sent overseas in 1940. His Army record consistently has his names in the wrong order : Henry Herbert Williams. He saw action in North Africa, Greece, and on Crete, where he was captured. For his role in the Crete action, he was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Oak Leaf. Taken to prison camp in Germany, he had 3 years captivity at Stalag VIII B, (Lamsdorf, now Łambinowice ) Poland, mainly in work camps such as quarries. In early 1945 his last camp-Setzdorf-was evacuated away from the approaching Red Army, and after months of marching, Harry and others broke away. They were at Vamberk when it was taken by the Russian Army but were able to reach Praha and refuge. As a result of his bad experience at Vamberk, and Czech kindness in Praha, Harry was shocked by the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, and took part in a public demonstration against it in New Zealand, while also recording in the press, his appreciation for the kindness of the Czechs ^[3]

In 2014 some of the work camp detail came to light from WW2 German documents found in the Czech Republic as a result of work by Mr Roman Janas: Harry had worked at work camps E273 Niklasdorf, E183 Bierutow and E173 Setzdorf. Harry and other prisoners held at these camps are today celebrated in a museum and other memorials at Česká Ves in the Jesenik area in the Czech Republic. ^[4] See additional photograph.

A brief overview of Harry's military service can be found at the Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph.

Repatriated to New Zealand, Harry was discharged from the Army on 11 December 1945 and was back at the “Auckland Star” again in 1946 when he met and married Joan Hanlon. Over his married years Harry worked as a gardener, cabinetmaker, in a pottery, as a paper cutting machine operator and when he retired he was a manager of a bindery in a printing company, Hallmark Cards ^[5] Harry died 18 September 1991 ^[6]in Auckland, in a hospital room next to Joan.

Sources

1. ↑ Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz Birth Registration 1918/25978
2. ↑ The Descendants of John and Mary Gebbie Arrived in the AURORA 21 January 1840 and also The Descendants of John and Isabella Williams Arrived in the RANDOLPH 16 Dec 1850. by Herbert Anderson Williams. Privately Published Christchurch 1953. Printed by Redferns, Christchurch. ANZC Research Collection Pamphlets, Christchurch City Libraries https://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/
3. ↑ Harry Williams (Interview) POW Marches Again-and repays a debt to Czechoslovakia. Western Leader (Auckland) 3 September 1968 – copy in possession of Denis Williams April 2022
4. ↑ Information Roman Janas (Czech Republic) to Denis Williams 2014-2019
5. ↑ Denis Williams with contributions from siblings
6. ↑ “Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz Death Registration 1991/40659