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HUGH WILLIAMS
"A Nasho"

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Lt. Gen Peter Cosgrove, Australia's most senior soldier and myself at the saluting base in late July 2001.
Just on 5000 National Servicemen took part in the parade on the Gold Coast.
And now
His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd)
Governor-General of the Commonwealth Of Australia.
Click here for more details

VISIT MY NATIONAL WEB SITE
of the
National Servicemen's Association of Australia

click here to access

As former President and founder of the Gold Coast Sub Branch, (1995-1998) and former National President (1998-2000) of the National Servicemen's Association of Australia, I have enjoyed the privilege of leading the Australian National Servicemen in various activities and functions. I represented the members both here and overseas.
The most important occasions of course were the ANZAC Day Marches. Nashos now march proudly throughout Australia behind their own banners each year..

My first 40 years were in Victoria, I was born on the 16th August 1934 and was educated at Moorabbin State School No 1111 and later at Brighton Technical School. I spent 22 years with the Melbourne City Council Electricity Supply Department as an electrician and high voltage operator..
Over the years I served as a  Part Time Digger in
the Brighton Technical School Cadets
and achieved the rank of a 'Cadet Lieutenant',
The Royal Australian Engineers , (3 Field Engineer Regiment) as a 'Corporal', 
15th National Service Battalion,
Victorian Scottish Regiment (5th Battalion) as a 'Corporal' and the
Royal Australian Signals ,(3 Divisional Signals Regiment) as a 'Corporal'.
From 1970, I was a senior officer in the Australian Air League, a youth organisation, first as a Drill Instructor with the "Waverley Squadron" and later became the Commanding Officer of "Mayhew Wing". Eventually taking on the position of "Group Lt." looking after the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I resigned in early 1976 to go to Darwin to help in the reconstruction after Cyclone Tracey.

In June 2003 I returned to the Australian Air League as their Victorian Group Public Relations Officer until illness over took me.
I worked with the Melbourne City Council Electricity Supply Dept, the Northern Territory Electricity Commission and the South West Queensland Electricity Board, both the later places as an Electrical Inspector..

I returned to the Gold Coast in 1980 after spending 5 years in Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. On the Gold Coast I worked at several small private enterprise jobs. In 1983 I made the move to Tara, a small rural town 300 kms west of Brisbane in Queensland to take over the responsibility of looking after the Electrical Distribution of power in an area of about 16,000 square Kilometres with a staff of only three.
In 1989 it was time to retire from this position and I returned to the Gold Coast to run a small Electrical Contracting business until my wife became ill and forced me into early retirement.

I was surprised to hear of a fledgling organisation called the National Servicemen's Association and realised I was one of them. I joined up only to find myself embroiled in the formation of the Gold Coast Sub Branch in 1995. The Sub Branch grew and before long we had about 200 members.
We knew the 50 year anniversary of the first call-up was due in July 2001 so the Gold Coast Sub Branch, took on the ambitious job of organising an Australian wide re-union. This they did with great success, somewhere between 3 to 5 thousand Nashos attended and took part in the huge march.
I was honoured to be on the Saluting Base with Lt. Gen. Peter Cosgrove, see the picture above.

In 1999 I was very proud to be nominated and receive the Commonwealth Recognition Award for Senior Australians.

In April and May 1999 I travelled to Turkey, France, Belgium and London, explored the battle fields of World War One where my father had served and I presented Nasho plaques to several French towns.
Villers Bretonneux on 6/5/1999,
Herleville on 7/5/1999 and
Fromelles on 9/5/1999.  It  was an experience I will never forget.

Arc de Triomphe 6a.jpg (56482 bytes)

I took part in the Eternal Flame ceremony on the Tomb of the 'Unknown Soldier' under the 'Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees' in Paris, I actually turned the flame down at the end of the ceremony.,
I was a member of the Queensland Naval Brigade and served as a Warrant Officer (Supply) in the Queensland Naval Brigade, Southport Volunteer Company.
I was very proud to have my son Graeme march with me and represent my father in the ANZAC march 2000.  It was a great thrill and new experience for both myself and my son.
April 2001 there was another major step in my life as after 26 years 'Up North',  due to ill health, I returned to Victoria to be with my family.
I was the Newsletter Editor for the Monash Sub Branch .
In September 2002 I was made a Life Member of the Queensland Branch of the National Servicemen's Association.
March 2012 I was made a life Member of the Monash Sub Branch in Victoria.December 2005,
I was very proud of the fact that I had been asked to edit and compile the Newsletter for the "Rats of Tobruk Association" in Victoria. This I did till poor health made me give it away.

 

As the former National President ( 1998 - 2000) of the National Servicemen's Association of Australia, 
I am still involved with  the Monash Sub Branch in Victoria.

"The
National Servicemen's
Association of Australia"

ANZAC 2000 was special as My Son marched with me.

2000

The story of my trip to Gallipoli and France in 1999 where I followed in my father's footsteps.

ANZAC Trip

The Flag presentation to 41 Fd Battery in November 1999

Flag Presentation

The story of my father, Ivor A. Williams who served in World War One and Two.
With links through to other members of the family who served in World War One 1914-1918.
My Uncle Jack Melville (7 Battalion) who only lasted 12 hours at ANZAC before being killed and his sister,
Sister Lenny Melville who served as a Nurse in Salonica, Greece

His Autobiography
My Hero My Dad
Dad's day by day diary of W. W. 1
Uncle Jack
Sister Lenny

A Grand son's dedication to his Grandfather.

From a Proud Grandson

Read the History of the 21st Battalion, 1st A.I.F.

21st Battalion History

My time as a Part Time Digger in the Citizen Military Forces and National Service

  Part Time Digger 

The history of the first mobile Army Steam Cooker invented by James Wiles, used in WW1 & WW2.   James Wiles was my uncle.

The Wiles Cooker

My Grand-Father and the Carlton Cricket/Football Club in the early days

Carlton Cricket Club

 

 

While a Member of the 'Waverley Hills Camera Club, I made amateur movies from 1966 to 1972.     
Have a look at some of the old movies we made!.  Some of these are now in the National Film Archives and the library at Duntroon Military Training Collage.

See page for details.
"Movie Makers"

I have written, compiled and recreated several books from old family Documents.

Look here for list of books

The story of a modest American soldier who I am proud to call a friend.

Modest Hero

Have a look at my collection of Memorabilia

Museum

Updated  Wednesday, 01 July 2015
You can contact Hugh Williams by any of the methods listed below

Phone :-
03 9759 7744

Email: click here

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Revised: July 01, 2015.