Raymond Burke Williams was killed in France on September 19th, 1916, by the explosion of an enemy mine, while he was at a listening post. He was 29 years of age, and his career in the army had been a distinguished one.
He joined the Royal Engineers in May, 1915, as 2nd Lieutenant, and three months later was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Givenchy, on August 25th, when in charge of a mine. He went down the gallery immediately after the end had been blown in and ordered his men out, owing to the presence of gas fumes. Some were overcome by the fumes, and these he endeavoured to rescue until he himself collapsed and had to be dragged out; but as soon as he had recovered he again went half-way down the mine and directed further rescue operations. Shortly afterwards he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and commanded a Tunnelling Company for three or four months.
On the disbandment of the company he was appointed to the command of 1st Army Mine School, a position which he only held for a short time. Finally, he returned to his original company, and remained with it until his death, During the time he was in charge of mines he consistently showed the greatest coolness in difficult operations, which often necessitated the rapid charging and blowing up of mines in close proximity to the enemy’s counter mines.
Mr. Williams was educated at Cambridge, where he took his degree in mechanical sciences in 1908; and at the Royal School of Mines where he obtained the Associateship in 1910. On the conclusion of his training he went to Borneo and spent three years as assistant engineer at Bau, Sarawak. Returning home in 1913, he proceeded, after a few months vacation, to Northern Nigeria, where for about a year he held an appointment as assistant engineer to the Niger Co., Ltd., at its mines at Jos.
Mr. Williams was admitted to Studentship of the Institution in. 1910, and was transferred to Associateship in 1914.
Vol. 26, Trans IMM 1916-17, pp.280-81
