Capt .Herbert John Mainwaring Williams , died Etshowe 12 / 3 / 79 , was the second son of Rev. Richard Williams , J.P , Rector
of Roggiett with Llanvihangel Roggiett , Monmouthshire , his mother being the eldest daughter of Ambrose Philips Mainwaring,
Esquire of Chambers Court , Worcestershire . He was born at Leamington 28 / 9 / 38 , educated at Cheltenham and by Private
Tutor . Obtaining his commission without purchase , he entered the army in 1859 , being gazetted to an Ensigncy in 2 / 4th Kings Own . He served in that Corps at Corfu , Malta & Canada , from whence he returned to England in 1867. Retired in 1871 on temporary half pay . Capt Williams was brought in again to serve in Sept 1877 , joining the 41st Regt . Being desirous to see more foreign service , and hoping to be enabled to take part in the Kaffir war , then in progress in Sth Africa , he exchanged in Aug 1878
into the 2 / 3rd Regt . Before he arrived at the Cape , however , his Regt had been ordered to join the force which , with a view to the impending invasion of Zululand , was being massed on the Natal Frontier . Joining his Batt at Lower Tugela Drift on the 2nd Dec 78 he proceeded with Col Pearson's Column , to which his Regt was attached , on its advance into Zululand 12 Jan 79. Present at the battle of Inyezane on the morning of the 22nd Jan 79 , and marched to Etshowe the following day. In the long and anxious time which
succeeded the arrival of the column at this position , throughout the wearisome routine which fell to the lot of the beleaguered force,
Capt Williams , though in indifferent health pre- eminently distinguished himself by his kindly ways and cheerful demeanour . Enfeebled by exposure , and without medical necessaries, he was unable to rally against the fever with which he was stricken , and died while Heliographic messages were being flashed to the Garrison by the force preparing for its relief . Capt Williams was a thorough soldier and a general favourite , ready to undergo any fatigue or hardship , self sacrificing to a degree ; he was a keen sportsman too, and readers of the ' Field ' will miss with regret the graphic accounts of his shooting expeditions in Canada and other quarters of the globe which he was in the habit of contributing to the pages of that Journal . Williams married in Feb 1871 , Wilhelmina daughter of Thomas Britain , Esquire , of Chichester .
From ' The South African Campaign of 1879 ' by Mackinnon & Shadbolt .
cheers 90th.
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