Uncovering the past: The story of George Williams DCM

The CWGC Non-Commemoration Programme's partnership with the Kenya Defence Forces to digitise records and identify servicemen who have not previously been commemorated drives our research in East Africa.

Research lead Dr John Burke shares more on the story of George Williams DCM that has been uncovered as part of this important work

The story of George Williams DCM

Into the archives

The opening-up and digitisation of the records of the King’s African Rifles (KAR) is one of the most important developments in recent colonial military history. 

Thought lost for decades, in some cases these records are the only surviving documentation detailing the lives of those African personnel who served with British forces from as far back as the 1880s. 

Their rediscovery, made possible via an important partnership between the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), enables many of their stories to be told for the first time, or in greater detail than ever before.

One such story is that of George Williams DCM, a highly decorated Kenyan soldier, who was recommended for the Victoria Cross (VC), before he was killed in action in July 1918. George’s gallant exploits, and the controversy over not receiving the VC, have been well documented. 

Moreover, his early campaign medals recently sold at auction for £11,000. 

But it is the information held with his attestation papers, found through the research efforts of the CWGC’s Non-Commemoration Programme in collaboration with the KDF, which when connected with other historical records, provides new insights into his life like never before.

Early years

Image: George Williams DCM (NAM, 1990-08-141-15)

From the age given on his enlistment, George was most likely born in 1874, in Mombasa, Kenya. He was of the Swahili tribe and his parents were Samuel Songoro and Sansan Surea Rabai. 

The heir to his estate was Lilly Mashaka, who was most likely his wife. Based upon his name, it is highly likely that George was resident in the Frere Town area of Mombasa, which was originally settled by freed slaves under the auspices of the Church Mission Society, who were based in Mombasa and Zanzibar, amongst others.

This presumption is reinforced by William Lloyd-Jones who, in his 1926 book on the KAR, referred to George as an ‘ex-mission boy’ who, ‘though nominally a Christian, made no pretence of piety, but freely admitted that he still feared the “devil” and other malignant spirits which had been a terror to his ancestors’. 

It is likely that Lloyd-Jones, who had served as a Lieutenant with the King’s African Rifles, had known George personally or at least known those who did, given he remarked that George was a ‘great correspondent’ and was ‘remarkably well educated’, writing as he did in English. 

He further added that he was an ‘excellent signaller’, a ‘capable sergeant’, and an ‘exceptional man’.  Although these are only snippets into his early life, they can begin to help build up a picture of George and his abilities.

Enlistment and Service

George enlisted around the age of 24 on 2 November 1898. This was just three years after the British government had proclaimed the territory of what is now Kenya as the East African Protectorate. 

His attestation paper shows that he was 5ft 8 inches tall, with a 37-inch chest, and he had a scar on the right side of his chin. In 1902 his regiment was amalgamated with several other units to form the King’s African Rifles.

Despite hailing from Mombasa, Kenya, it would appear that George originally served with the Uganda Rifles and then the 4th KAR (Uganda), with the service number 687. 

Following a reorganisation in 1904, in which two companies were transferred from the 4th to the 3rd KAR (Kenya), it is likely George was transferred with them and given the new service number 1925. 

His initial service with the Uganda Rifles, rather than the Kenya-based East African Rifles, may well have been the result of recruiting practices which favoured Sudanese and Swahili troops, as well as the heavy and almost constant campaigning at this time in Uganda.

George initially joined up for 4 years but chose to re-enlist in 1902 and again in 1906 before being discharged on 7 February 1910. However, just four months later, on 6 June 1910, George chose to re-enlist once more. 

His reasons for doing so are unknown, but one can speculate that like many soldiers before him he missed the rigours and comradery of military life, felt compelled to reenlist for financial reasons, or may simply have found his alternatives otherwise distasteful. 

Whatever his reasons, George chose to make the army his career, taking a further extension in 1913. By the time of his death in July 1918, aged 44, he had served for nearly half his life, almost 20 years in all.

Prior to the outbreak of the First World War, George served in a series of military campaigns for which he received medals and clasps. 

These included the Nandi Expedition of 1900, the Kamililo Expedition 1903, the Sotik Expedition 1905, the Nandi Expedition 1905-6, the Somaliland Expedition 1908-10, and the Marehan Expedition 1913-14. 

Alongside these campaigns, he qualified as a signalling instructor in 1906, and he was consistently rated as a first-class shot.  

A complex individual 

George was undoubtedly a more than capable soldier, but his defaulter sheet – detailing his military crimes and offences – suggests he did not always find peacetime service agreeable. 

While most entries are for relatively minor offences, such as being absent from parade or gambling, George did face a serious charge in October 1901 when he was tried for desertion and for conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline. 

While no information is provided on the incident, his documents note that George was acquitted of the most serious charge but was found guilty of being absent without leave. His sentence was 56 days imprisonment with hard labour.

Beyond this incident, however, George’s defaulter sheet suggests his main weakness was a predilection for alcohol, as he was marked up for being drunk on duty eight times. 

Although this may not seem much over the course of a 20-year career, on two of these occasions, in 1904 and 1912, it saw him demoted back down to the rank of Private. 

These demotions, though, were far from unique, as while George was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, Corporal or Signal Sergeant on multiple occasions between 1899 and 1912, he rarely lasted more than a few months in post before an indiscretion resulted in him being reduced back down to the rank of Private.

Looking at things another way, George’s competency as a soldier and leader were repeatedly recognised when he was routinely promoted through the ranks. 

Moreover, it does appear that after 1913 he turned a corner, as there is only one entry on his defaulter sheet – a severe reprimand in July 1915 for being drunk and causing a disturbance in Nairobi – coupled to his steady rise through the ranks. 

It is unlikely a coincidence that this period covered his mobilisation during the First World War, something that secured his status as a fighting soldier and his reputation for gallantry.

‘Earned a great reputation for gallantry’

In his long years of service up to 1913, George proved himself a capable but easily bored soldier. 

Between December 1913 and January 1915, however, he would also prove himself an exceptionally brave one. 

Being commended for gallantry on four occasions during this period, he was even nominated for consideration for a Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the British Army. 
 
His first commendation came during the Marehan Expedition of 1913-14, in modern-day Somalia. 

During the campaign, George and a small group of askaris held a signal post at Adalileh, against sustained attack by local tribesmen. An incident for which, in George’s own words ‘the govt the[y] make me sgt (sic)’.  

George’s service record notes he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant on 15 December 1913 for his gallantry at Adalileh. 

The next three acts of gallantry occurred at Tsavo and Jasin during the early stages of the First World War. 

At Tsavo, in the south of Kenya, George was cited for gallantry on two occasions within the space of a month. 

The first, on the night of 4/5 September 1914, resulted in George receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal, and the second, on 1 October, saw George receive a promotion to Colour Sergeant. 

As the citation for his DCM noted, George showed ‘great courage and enterprise… [as] This N.C.O. twice, at great personal risk, crept up to the German position and brought back information of the enemy’s disposition and strength’. 

Just a few months later, George and his unit had moved into the Lumba Valley, which was situated close to the border with German East Africa (Tanzania). 

Just over the border was the town of Jasin, which was captured by Indian forces in early January 1915. However, a strong German counterattack ensued, with the heaviest engagements occurring on the 18-19 January. 

Given the intensity of the fighting, the defence could not be maintained, and the British forces were forced to withdraw. In total, 76 Indian troops and 15 KAR died during the engagement. 

Image: Positions around Jasin, January 1915 (Charles Hordern, Military Operations East Africa Volume 1, (London: HMSO, 1941) map 14)

In an attempt to relieve the garrison holding Jasin, George and his unit made multiple crossings of the River Umba, but on each occasion they were compelled to withdraw. 

It was on 18 January 1915 that George, who was in command of a section, had all the team and porters of a machine gun attached to him knocked out. He seized the gun and carried it back to camp, ‘apologising on his arrival for not having brought the tripod as well’. 
 
George was mentioned in despatches for his actions and, on 28 February 1915, Major General Wapshare, Commander of Indian Expeditionary Force “B”, wrote to the War Office to ‘urge for consideration whether this N.C.O. should not now be considered worthy of receiving the VICTORIA CROSS, this being the fourth time his name has been brought to notice for conspicuous acts of gallantry in twelve months’.  

This was followed up on 30 June 1915 by Major General J.W. Tighe, the new General Officer in command, who noted that Williams had already been recommended for a V.C., but ‘if V.C. has not been granted’, he instead recommended an additional bar be added to his existing DCM. 

Image: Plan for the fighting at Jasin (TNA, WO 106/273)

Although there was some confusion as to whether African soldiers were eligible to receive the VC, subsequent correspondence showed that George indeed was.   

Nonetheless, it has since been suggested that internal politics between the War Office and Colonial Office potentially prevented George from receiving this highest of accolades. 

Moreover, the fact that East African commanders had been distributing DCMs without reference to the Colonial Office, coupled with a suggestion that too many awards were being handed out, may also have played a part.  

Whatever the reason for denying it, a number of people in authority considered him worthy of the medal. Instead, George was commended for his bravery by receiving a bar to his DCM, with the citation: 

He commanded D Coy. on the 18th January 1915, at Jasin, after Lieut. Dean had been wounded and the Effendi killed. He succeeded in extricating the Coy. and Machine Guns under a very heavy rifle and machine gun fire, after all their ammunition had been expended. This N.C.O. has frequently come to notice for acts of gallantry and skill. 

Pursuit of Von-Lettow and the Battle of Namirrue 

After 1915, details within George’s service record are limited, although much can still be learnt. 

George was twice more promoted, first to Company Sergeant Major on 1 December 1916, and then to Regimental Sergeant Major (undated) with the 3/3rd Battalion of the KAR. 

His unit was actively involved in the advance into German East Africa (Tanzania) in 1916, and then the pursuit of Von-Lettow’s forces into Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) into 1918. 

From George’s service record, it is noted that he received a slight wound in action on 2 February 1917, which based on the movements of his unit, was likely at the Battle of Utete (Tanzania) fought between 28 January to 2 February. 

During this action, his unit suffered 2 officers wounded and 60 other ranks killed or wounded out of a force of 160 men.  
 
George’s final action occurred at the Battle of Namirrue (also known as Namucurrie) in Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique), on 22 July 1918. This was recorded in the regimental history as a disastrous day, as given the scale of their losses, the 3/3rd Battalion effectively ‘ceased to exist’.  

Image: Plan of the Namirrue Fight, July 1916 (TNA, WO 106/273)

On 21 July 1918, orders were received to march towards Namirrue, which had earlier been occupied by a small detachment from 2/3rd KAR that was by then under attack by the main body of Von-Lettow’s German force. 

However, the narrow roads and difficult terrain made movement slow, and it was not until 11am on 22 July that the British column arrived at a rocky and difficult ford over the Namirrue river.  
 
As the 3/3rd battalion were in advance, they were ordered to cross the river first and occupy the Namirrue-Alto Ligonha road. This was accomplished without opposition, and at 4pm the 3/3rd moved forwards towards the Boma held by the 2/3rd battalion, followed by the 4/4th in reserve (see figure 4). 

However, at 4.30pm the 3/3rd first encountered the enemy and, at 5pm, the battalion became heavily engaged, successfully driving the enemy off the ridge they were occupying. 

Image: Sketch of the action around Namiurre, July 1916 (TNA, WO 95/5328/1, p. 26)

As darkness fell, and given the column had been moving since 4am without food or rest, orders were issued to form a perimeter camp and dig in, with the camp of 4/4th battalion about 800 yards to the rear of 3/3rd. 

However, at 7pm the enemy made a determined counterattack against the 3/3rd camp from the direction of the river, and as the battalion had not quite secured their right flank, that side gave way, and the enemy rushed in scattering men in all directions. 

Image: Sketch of the action around Namiurre, July 1916 (TNA, WO 95/5328/1, p. 27)

With one camp cleared, the German force moved onto the 4/4th camp, where a ‘desperate action’ took place, with the enemy getting within a few yards of the perimeter before being driven off by 9pm. 

With that, the Officer Commanding the 4/4th, fearful of being cut off from his baggage train, decided to withdraw across the river, which occurred by 11pm. 

Although the German force attacked once more, they were driven off, and the remnants of the British column withdrew to their original camp, arriving at 1pm on the 23 July, with most of the men having not slept or eaten for 34 hours. 

The remaining garrison at Namirrue, held by 2/3rd battalion, were then surrounded and forced to surrender on the 24 July, with most of the men killed or wounded from shell fire.  

The British losses at Namirrue were significant, as the 3/3rd battalion suffered 5 dead, 14 wounded, and 91 missing.  

As a result, it was effectively reduced to the strength of half a company, and with that, it was withdrawn from the field and placed on the lines of communication until the end of the war.  
 
Amongst the 5 dead was RSM George Williams DCM and Bar. It is a sad twist of fate that George, who at the age of 44 and with almost 20 years of service, was killed in action in what proved to be his unit’s last engagement of the war. 

Although the exact location of George’s final resting place is not known, the story of his bravery will continue to live on. As more KAR records come to light, more of these stories can finally be told.

Discover more stories this Black History Month with a CWGC Tour

This Black History Month, we are hosting two tours at Runnymede Naval Memorial and the Tower Hill Memorial dedicated to the black personnel commemorated at these sites.

Visit our Events page to book your place. We hope you can join us to learn more fascinating, inspirational, and tragic stories of Black servicemen lost during the world wars.