Private David John Williams
- Rank
- Private
- Appointment
- Gunner
- Service number
- WX14450
- Unit
- 2/1 Heavy Battery Australian Artillery
- Cause of death
- Died as Prisoner of War
- Place of death
- Burma
- Date of death
- 20 September 1943
- Age
- 26
- Plaque number
- M236
- Dedicated by
- Family on 16 December 2006
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Gunner David John Williams of 2/1 Heavy Battery was born in Tambellup in April 1917, the seventh of eight children of Dan and Ellen Williams. He had six sisters and a brother.
He first enlisted in the army in 1937 and for business reasons requested a discharge in 1938.
He re-enlisted in August 1939 in the Royal Australian Artillery and volunteered for overseas service in November 1940.
He was posted to 2/1 Heavy Battery in Darwin in readiness for deployment to Koepang in Dutch West Timor.
They were to be part of the ill-fated 1400 strong Sparrow Force and arrived in Koepang in December 1941 aboard the 'Westralia'.
In February 1942, after four days of fierce fighting against an overwhelming Japanese force of 20,000 they were over run and forced to surrender.
David was sent to Changi and then to Thailand as part of F Force.
Gunner David John Williams, service number WX14450 of 2/1 Heavy Battery died from cerebral malaria while a prisoner of war in Burma on the 20 September 1943. He was 26.