Soldier – Williamson, Herbert – Presentation (picture)

October 1916

Capt Herbert Williamson

Capt Herbert Williamson (Kings own Yorkshire light infantry, attached machine gun Corps) son of Mr and Mrs Ralph Williamson, “Ash Lea”, Conisbrough, is home on leave recuperating from injuries received in an accident at the front.

The officials of the Cadeby colliery seized the occasion on Thursday to present him with gifts, in token of their appreciation and satisfaction at his recent promotion in the field. The presentation took place in the pay office at the Cadeby colliery on Thursday afternoon, Mr W Astbury presiding.

On behalf of the officials underground, Mr Vincent Rhodes, enginewright of the colliery, presented  captain Williamson a silver cigarette case and silver matchbox; and on behalf for the service officials he presented a case of pipes and a shaving outfit in a case. The shaving outfit and the cigarette case were suitably inscribed

Mr Rose said it gave him great pleasure to be able to hand over these token of respect to captain Williamson, whom most of them had known from youth, and had watched the progress of his career with interest and pleasure. He was a young man who had gone out to fight, not only for his King and country, but for every one of them there. They were engaged in a war which had to be won, and he was going to help to win it. He had always been ready to do his duty, and they were sure that he would never fall short of his duty in any situation with which he might be confronted (hear, hear)

Mr George Gregory (Foreman of the locomotive department) endorsed the remarks of Mr Rose. They were all pleased with the prompt way in which Capt Williamson had acted.

Mr Chambers said he hoped Captain Williamson would soon be back at the Cadeby colliery and resume the excellent work he did there before he accepted a higher duty. They found in Captain Williamson a good work man and a true friend. He proved a true friend in the dark days of the disaster, and as he survived that so they all hoped he would survive the hazards of the war (hear hear)

Captain Williamson, making acknowledgement, thanked the officials for their kindness and goodwill towards him, and said it was only one more instance of the amicable character of the people in the neighbourhood. He had never met more pleasant people anywhere, and he looked forward to coming back to settle among them once again. He thought a great deal of the excellent gifts they had presented to him; they would serve to remind him of the happiest time he had spent in his life (applause)

The gathering concluded with hearty cheers for Captain Williamson

Mr Ralph Williamson, Captain Williamson’s father and chief engineer of the Denaby and Cadeby collieries was amongst those present.

Captain Williamson some years before the war held a commission in the Conisbrough company of the K.O.Y.L.I.(G.F.) which he resigned owing to pressure of business. When war broke out, however, he volunteered for active service, and his commission was promptly restored to him. He still on the strength of the territorial battalion with which he was originally associated, but on receiving his company he was attached the machine gun Corps. He is assistant engineer at the Cadeby colliery.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.