The incredible story of tragic World War I soldier Will Williams and his message in a bottle

ON the way to fight in World War I, teen soldier Will Williams threw a comforting message, sealed in a bottle, from his ship into the ocean. What happened next was both extraordinary and tragic.

Teen soldier’s remarkable message to parents

ON the way to join the fight in World War I, teenage soldier Will Williams threw a comforting message, sealed in a bottle, from the deck of his transport ship into the Southern Ocean.

By next year, it had miraculously made its way back to his parents’ home in Hawthorn.

But tragic news from the front was to come several weeks later when a German sniper’s bullet claimed Williams’ life on the Western Front in February, 1917.

Aboard the HMAT Runic troop carrier off the South Australian coast in June 1916, Will, 19, had written a note — asking any finder to send it on to his anxious parents.

It read simply: “To my Mother + Dad. All well. Everything going A1. Don’t worry”.

It washed up at Stuart Bay Beach, Yorke Peninsula, was found in January 1917 and wound its way back to the family home in Victoria.

But the last words of comfort, like for thousands of families who lost sons and brothers in the trenches of Europe in World War I, was followed by the shocking news of his death just weeks later.

The Williams story resurfaced when great-great niece Emily Barratt began a high school research project on the Anzacs.

Dad Mark Barratt said it was terrific, and touching, the importance of the Anzac sacrifice had reached across the generations.

Mark’s own great grandparents had sent Will items — jarred honey, clothes and even a Kodak camera — to take as some home comforts to the front lines.

“What really struck me, was the way the Diggers were sent to war,” Mr Barratt said, adding often the young men had little opportunity to contact relatives once the order to sail had been given.

“They were told at late notice of their departure, and in this instance (Will) did not have the opportunity to say goodbye.

“His mother, Helena, quite obviously was beside herself, and being only 19, his letters to her, try to put her at ease.”

Mr Barratt said personal family histories, diaries and letters from the battle lines gave real insight into the experiences of the Diggers.

“Reading about his journey, training in the barracks, travelling on the Runic across the oceans, landing in the UK, training, going to war.

“Even reading about the effort on Hill 60, something which was not really commonly known until the movie was released.”

Will was first wounded in action and partially buried in the trenches of France on Christmas Eve, 1916.

He was treated and returned to the front on New Year’s Day.

Sadly, a trench collapsed under an enemy artillery barrage and Will became stuck in the debris when he was shot, likely by a sniper.

Will Williams was buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres.

To help mark the 100th anniversary commemoration of the outbreak of World War I, a 24-page lift-out accompanies the Sunday Herald Sun on August 3.

Originally published as The incredible story of tragic World War I soldier Will Williams and his message in a bottle