Mal Williams

Maldwyn Leslie Williams (9 September 1886 – 3 March 1917), known as "Mal" as a VFL footballer, mostly known as "Les" — and sometimes as "Billy" (from "Williams") — was an Australian rules footballer who played with University in the Victorian Football League. A graduate (M.B.B.S.) of Melbourne University, Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, serving as a medical officer in the First AIF, died as a result of wounds received in action, in France.
Family.
The son of Edward David Williams (1842–1909), M.L.A., and Jane Williams (1849–1919), née Jones, and brother of Susannah Jane Williams (1875–1942), he was born Castlemaine, Victoria on 9 September 1886.
He married Margaret Grant on 26 March 1913. they had two children, Margaret Ruth Williams, born in May 1914, and Marie Helen Williams, born in November 1915.
Education.
Educated at Castlemaine Grammar School and Melbourne Grammar School, Williams entered the University of Melbourne in March 1904, where he was a resident student at Trinity College for his entire undergraduate studies, having won a Trinity College scholarship.
Medicine.
He graduated in medicine in 1908, and working as a surgeon at Bendigo Base Hospital, before going into private practice.
Football.
University.
While at University he played inter-collegiate football for Trinity College.
In his last year at University (1908), both Melbourne University and the Richmond Football Club were admitted to the Victorian Football League (VFL). One of 32 players used by the university club in that inaugural season, he played seven senior matches for the university team — making his debut in the team that beat St Kilda 8.6 (54) to 5.10 (40) in round 4 (23 May 1908).
South Bendigo.
He continued his football career during 1910 and 1911, when he was a "dashing half-back" with the South Bendigo football team; and, in 1913 and 1914, he served on the South Bendigo committee.
Military.
In 1909 he joined the No. 2 Field Ambulance as captain. Once he had relocated to Bendigo (in 1910), he was posted to Kitchener Camp; and was later attached to the 67th (Bendigo) Infantry as a supernumerary medical officer. With the introduction of the universal military training scheme in Australia during 1911, he was given command of the B Section, 17th Australian Army Medical Corps. He was promoted to major in April 1914, and assumed command of the whole Corps in 1915.
He enlisted in the First AIF, at Bendigo, in July 1915, and entered camp on 24 August that year. He saw service with the Field Ambulance in Egypt before being transferred to France.
Williams was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in December 1916.
Death.
He was wounded in action when in command of the 1st Field Ambulance, at Eaucourt L'Abbaye, when shot through the left shoulder and the lung on 2 March 1917 by an "indiscriminate sniper".
He died of his wounds at the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, at Edgehill (near Dernancourt), on 3 March 1917. A few days later, the Australian Surgeon-General, Major-General Sir Neville Howse, VC, paid tribute to Williams by stating that, "everyone deplores the loss of a brilliant, popular young officer".
Mentioned in despatches.
On 1 June 1917, the British War Office announced that Williams had been mentioned in dispatches. The posthumous recommendation, made by the G.O.C. 1st. Australian Division, dated 7 March 1917, read: