Arthur Victor Seymour Williams
Encyclopedia
General Arthur Victor Seymour Williams (1867 - December 12, 1949), was a Canadian
general in the First World War and later the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
.
Arthur Williams was born at Port Hope, Ontario
in 1867, the son of Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams
, by his wife Emily, daughter of Benjamin Seymour. After attending Trinity College School
in Port Hope, Ontario
he entered the Royal Military College of Canada
, Kingston in 1884. Two years into his studies he was withdrawn from the college at his parent’s request and entered service in the Northwest Mounted Police. The following year he became an inspector. His commission as an Inspector with the Northwest Mounted Police is dated December 1887. He transferred to the Mounted Infantry in 1889. He married Helen Euphemia Sutherland on Oct 23, 1890. He eventually took a commission with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in 1893. In 1899 he went to South Africa, serving as a Major and Lieutenant Colonel in command of `B`Squadron, with the Canadian Mounted Rifles during the Second Boer War
, South Africa in 1900. There is a photo c. 1900 in the Library and Archives Canada
Collection taken in Winnipeg, Manitoba of Major V.A.S. Williams, his daughter Phyllis, and his horse Joe.
Williams was promoted to Brevet Colonel for his overseas service and made Commandant of the Royal School of Cavalry in Toronto. In 1907 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Dragoons and Inspector of Cavalry for the Dominion of Canada. In 1911 he commanded the mounted units at the Coronation of King George V. In 1913, he was presented with a Silver Trowel. From 1912 to 1914 he was Adjutant General at Ottawa. He commanded Valcartier Camp, Quebec, during the mobilization of the 1st Canadian Division, and accompanied the contingent overseas. During the war he served on the general staffs of Field Marshal Sir John French and the 2nd and 3rd British Army Corps.
As a Brigadier-General, he commanded the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions of the 8th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division (December 1915 to June 1916). He was mentioned in a Despatch on 30 April 1916 for gallant and distinguished services in the Field. He was severely wounded and taken prisoner on 3 June 1916, during the Battle of Mont Sorrel
. He was captured by the Germans. German doctors cared for him when he was a German prisoner of war
. He was released in a prisoner exchange before the end of the war.
He returned to Canada in late 1918. Mount Williams (Canada)
(2730 meters) in the Canadian Rockies on the border of Alberta
and British Columbia
was named in his honour in 1918. He was appointed Companion to the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) in 1920.
After the war, he was promoted to Major-General in command of Military District 2 based in Toronto. He commanded military districts in Kingston and Toronto. He served as the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
from 1922-39. He became Chief Commander of the Ontario Provincial Police in 1926-39. He died in Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Ontario on December 12, 1949. He was buried in the St. John's Cemetery in Port Hope, Ontario
. A collection of his Boer War, African War and World War I medals were auctioned by Plato Auctions in April 2010.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
general in the First World War and later the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
The Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police is the head of the Ontario Provincial Police force in the Canadian province of Ontario.The first head of a provincial police force was John Wilson Murray, who was a provincial constable appointed to the position of Detective for the Province of...
.
Arthur Williams was born at Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
in 1867, the son of Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams
Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams
Lt.-Colonel The Hon. Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams was a Canadian businessman, farmer and political figure. His statue stands in front of the town hall of Port Hope, Ontario....
, by his wife Emily, daughter of Benjamin Seymour. After attending Trinity College School
Trinity College School
Trinity College School is a coeducational, independent boarding/day school located in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. TCS was founded on May 1, 1865, more than 2 years prior to Canadian Confederation. It includes a Senior School for grades 9 to 12 and a Junior School for grades 5 to 8.Among its...
in Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
he entered the Royal Military College of Canada
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
, Kingston in 1884. Two years into his studies he was withdrawn from the college at his parent’s request and entered service in the Northwest Mounted Police. The following year he became an inspector. His commission as an Inspector with the Northwest Mounted Police is dated December 1887. He transferred to the Mounted Infantry in 1889. He married Helen Euphemia Sutherland on Oct 23, 1890. He eventually took a commission with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in 1893. In 1899 he went to South Africa, serving as a Major and Lieutenant Colonel in command of `B`Squadron, with the Canadian Mounted Rifles during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, South Africa in 1900. There is a photo c. 1900 in the Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada
Library and Archives Canada is a national memory institution dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible for use in the 21st century and beyond...
Collection taken in Winnipeg, Manitoba of Major V.A.S. Williams, his daughter Phyllis, and his horse Joe.
Williams was promoted to Brevet Colonel for his overseas service and made Commandant of the Royal School of Cavalry in Toronto. In 1907 he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Dragoons and Inspector of Cavalry for the Dominion of Canada. In 1911 he commanded the mounted units at the Coronation of King George V. In 1913, he was presented with a Silver Trowel. From 1912 to 1914 he was Adjutant General at Ottawa. He commanded Valcartier Camp, Quebec, during the mobilization of the 1st Canadian Division, and accompanied the contingent overseas. During the war he served on the general staffs of Field Marshal Sir John French and the 2nd and 3rd British Army Corps.
As a Brigadier-General, he commanded the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Battalions of the 8th Infantry Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division (December 1915 to June 1916). He was mentioned in a Despatch on 30 April 1916 for gallant and distinguished services in the Field. He was severely wounded and taken prisoner on 3 June 1916, during the Battle of Mont Sorrel
Battle of Mont Sorrel
The Battle of Mont Sorrel was a localized conflict of World War I between three divisions of the British Second Army and three divisions of the German Fourth Army in the Ypres Salient, near Ypres, Belgium, from 2 June 1916 to 14 June 1916.In an effort to pull British resources from the observed...
. He was captured by the Germans. German doctors cared for him when he was a German prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. He was released in a prisoner exchange before the end of the war.
He returned to Canada in late 1918. Mount Williams (Canada)
Mount Williams (Canada)
Mount Williams is located on the border of Alberta and British Columbia on the Continental Divide. It was named in 1918 after Major General Arthur Victor Seymour Williams CMG.-See also:* List of peaks on the British Columbia – Alberta border...
(2730 meters) in the Canadian Rockies on the border of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
was named in his honour in 1918. He was appointed Companion to the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G.) in 1920.
After the war, he was promoted to Major-General in command of Military District 2 based in Toronto. He commanded military districts in Kingston and Toronto. He served as the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
The Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police is the head of the Ontario Provincial Police force in the Canadian province of Ontario.The first head of a provincial police force was John Wilson Murray, who was a provincial constable appointed to the position of Detective for the Province of...
from 1922-39. He became Chief Commander of the Ontario Provincial Police in 1926-39. He died in Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto, Ontario on December 12, 1949. He was buried in the St. John's Cemetery in Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope, Ontario
Port Hope is a municipality in Southern Ontario, Canada, about east of Toronto and about west of Kingston. It is located at the mouth of the Ganaraska River on the north shore of Lake Ontario, in the west end of Northumberland County...
. A collection of his Boer War, African War and World War I medals were auctioned by Plato Auctions in April 2010.