b. ? d. ?
DATE OF AM ACTION: 06/03/1881 Uzon Sounds, south of Montrose, Scotland.
Nothing is known of the life of George Williams AM other than his actions on 6th March 1881.
AM CITATION:
On Sunday morning, the 6th March, last, during a heavy gale, accompanied by blinding snow and sleet, the Norwegian brig “Ranger,” of Fredrikshald, was wrecked at Marywells, on the Uzon Guards, when WILLIAMS, by his gallant conduct, was the means of saving the four survivors of the crew, the master and mate having been washed overboard when the vessel struck on the rocks. . Communication with the wrecked vessel was obtained by means of the rocket apparatus, but the crew did not seem to understand how to use it, so WILLIAMS got into the breeches buoy, and hauled himself out hand over hand. On getting within about twenty yards of the wreck, and finding he was making no. headway, he dropped from the buoy on to the rocks, and made his way over them and through the wreckage to the wreck, on reaching which he found the crew quite helpless. By dint of great exertions he managed to get on board and secure the hawser, but the whip (the endless rope by which the breeches buoy is hauled backwards and forwards by the party on shore) was foul among the wreckage. In endeavouring to clear.it the whip carried away, leaving one end on board, the other on shore. WILLIAMS then sent one man on shore, but in hauling off, the whip again got foul of the wreckage, and was cleared with great difficulty. Then two more men were landed. One man was then left, with whom WILLIAMS himself intended going ashore, but before he could get into the buoy it was hauled away from him. . The lines again got foul, and the man was in great danger of being drowned in the breakers, when WILLIAMS jumped from the wreck, swam to the breeches buoy, and cleared it. They were then both hauled ashore much exhausted. WILLIAMS’S hands were greatly lacerated, and his back severely bruised, and he has since suffered severely from the effects of the exposure, and the shock to the system.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
