Toowoomba Main Street 1897 -about 15 years before the Williams Family arrived.

Rueben Williams was born in 1894 Oswestry. His father was Thomas Williams, who was the owner of Weston Bakery, his mother was Sarah. Rueben was the second eldest and eldest son of 10 children – 4 sisters and 5 brothers. The family lived at Weston Cotton and later at The Firs, Weston. He attended Morda School and was friend to Private 52641 George T Kirk. He also became a baker, working with his father and that of George Kirk. In August 1911 the family emigrated to Australia. They set up home in Toowoomba, Queensland where they opened the Newtown Bakery. They lived in a house named ‘Weston’ – probably a reminder to their old home – on James Street. Around this time Rueben changed jobs and became a railway engine driver on Queensland Railways. He enlisted at Brisbane on 28 September 1915 joining 26 Bn Australian Infantry. After training he embarked for the war in March 1916. He first disembarked at Egypt, on 12 May, where he spent until November when the battalion moved onward to England and then finally went over France to join the battalion as a draft reinforcement.

In early March 1917, whilst in France, he had an Hernia. He was admitted to hospital at Rouen and then on 15 April he was evacuated back to England to No. 2 Eastern General Hospital at Brighton. On 1 June he moved to No. 3 Hospital at Hurdcott, he remained there until 10 July when he was classified as A3 and returned to duty. His reaction to this seems to have been to go AWOL for 2 days, reporting back on 14 July and being admonished and fined 2 days pay. He returned to Australian Infantry Training Battalion and then went back to France on 5 February 1918 and rejoining 26 Bn Australian Infantry 5 days later. He was KIA on 2 September 1918 at Mont St Quentin during the 100 Days – the battalion War Dairy records casualties of ORs 18 KIA, 94 wounded and 1 missing – the missing man is possibly Rueben – his body was lost and he is commemorated on the Villers Bretonneux Memorial to Australian Forces. He is also remembered on the Australian National War Memorial, on Toowoomba Roll of Honour, on Queensland Railways Roll of Honour and at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

On 1 December 1918 a memorial service was held at St Anne’s Church, Morda, also being commemorated was school and family friend – Private 52641 George T Kirk – KIA on 2 September 1918. A large number of friends and relatives were present. Rev. M B Lutener, officiated. Hymns sung were ‘Jerusalem the Golden’, ‘Oft in Danger’ and ‘O Jesus I have promised’. Miss Amy Jones presided at the organ and played the Death March during the service.

Acknowledgments.

References and Sources

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