Henry Daniel Williams MC (Military Cross).
Known as Harry
Serial Number: 13/759
RAF Trade: Observer, then Pilot
Date of Enlistment: 13th of July 1914
Rank Achieved: Major
Flying Hours: 385.40 hours as Pilot
(252.4 hours operational), 100 hours as Observer
Service Details: Harry joined the NZ Army on the 13th of July 1914, just before the entry of New Zealand and Britain into World War One. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Auckland Mounted Rifles on the 16th of January 1915, and embarked for war service on the 14th of February 1915. He was a member of the 11th Squadron, Auckland Mounted Rifles, as part of the 3rd Reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force under the command of Colonel Andrew H. Russell.
Following hospitalisation in Egypt, Harry was sent to Britain for rest and recuperation. On the 8th of October 1915 it was reported in the Otago Daily Times that Harry was a patient at the Prince of Wales Convalescent Home, in Staines, (near London).
According to the Williams family’s understanding he was sent to rest – probably after being in Staines, to Scotland (Kinross House Estate, Milnathort –Google Maps). This was on a large estate, and whilst talking with the lady who owned the estate he apparently expressed his desire to continue fighting, and that he would like to join the Royal Flying Corps.
It happened that the lady’s brother was General Russell, who was in charge of the British Forces in the East, so she gave Harry a letter of recommendation for him to give to the general.
Harry was posted to the New Zealand Base Depot at Hornchurch (East London) on the 13th of January 1916, where he was on Light Duties, and undergoing instructional courses as he recovered from the wound. He was transferred then to a Mtd Train (?) Regiment (New Zealand Mounted Rifles Training Regiment) from the 26th of April till the 6th of May 1916.
4-hd-williams-p111-120 file size 9 meg
5-hd-williams-p121-126 file size 5.5 meg
http://rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/2126?q=h+d+williams
promotion https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19170416.2.19
Casualty list https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19170416.2.19
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WC19151009.2.8
Commission https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19161209.2.53
Cambridge Airforce Pages http://www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/Harry%20Williams.html
See also HD Williams Memoires pages 19-25