• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

March 19th, 1909 (Townsville/Queensland, Australia)

Date of death:

May 16th, 1943 (Haldern, Germany)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Cemetery Reichswald Forest
Plot: 5. Row: C. Grave: 11.

Service number:

405224

Nationality:

Australian

Charles Rowland Williams, born on 19 March 1909 in Townsville, Queensland, was the middle child of Horace and Hedwige Williams. Raised on various sheep stations, he was tutored at home before boarding at Townsville Grammar School at 12. After leaving school at 16, Williams worked on his father’s station, developed mechanical skills, and pursued hobbies like wireless building and photography.

During the 1930s economic crash, the family bought their own station. Always drawn to flying, Williams took lessons at Townsville Aero Club. At age 30, despite an ill father, he and his brother joined military service. Williams opted for the air force, beginning training in February 1941 and qualifying as a wireless operator/air gunner. He was commissioned and sent to England in late 1941.

Initially delayed by training bottlenecks, Williams gained operational experience in May 1942, flying in the first Thousand Bomber Raid on Cologne, followed by raids on Essen and Bremen. By September, he joined 61 Squadron at Syerston, flying eight operations, including Munich. After completing his tour with a Berlin raid in early 1943, Williams prepared to return to Australia to care for his sick father.

Having ended his engagement to his Australian fiancée, Williams planned to marry Gwen "Bobbie" Parfitt from Nottingham and bring her back to Australia.

Tragically, Charlie Williams and his crew perished during the Dams Raid, hitting an electricity pylon near Haldern, Germany.

Williams had been recommended for the DFC, which was awarded posthumously and presented to his mother. Unaware of his broken engagement, Australian authorities initially contacted his former fiancée, Millie McGuiness, before his new fiancée, Bobbie Parfitt, clarified the situation.

Charlie Williams is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Flying Officer

Unit:

No. 61 Squadron, Royal Air Force

Awarded on:

July 20th, 1945

Citation"
"Flying Officer WILLIAMS has taken part in numerous successful sorties, including two attacks on Germany and others on Cologne, Essen, Hamburg, Munich and Bremen.
He has also participated as Wireless Operator Air Gunner in a daylight raid on Le Creusot. His technical ability in the air has been of the highest order and his example of quiet efficiency has greatly influenced his crew.
Flying Officer WILLIAMS has done fine work and his devotion to duty in the face of enemy opposition has been most commendable."

Posthumously awarded

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

• Photo 1: Findagrave
• - CWGC
  - Dambusters
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37187/supplement/3784/data.pdf
  - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/

Helaas geen map gevonden.

German War Graves Nordfriedhof

Düsseldorf - Nordrhein-Westfalen

RAF Scampton

Lincoln - Lincolnshire

Memorial Fallen 617 Squadron Dambusters

Woodhall Spa - Lincolnshire

Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)