OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 48, 20 November 1928, Page 11

OBITUARY

DR. HAROLD WILLIAMS

SON OF NEW ZEALAND MINISTER (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) London, November IS. The death is announced of the New Zealander, Dr. Harold Williams, Foreign Editor of “The Times.” He developed internal trouble months ago, took three months’ rest, and resumed work, believing that he had recovered. He broke down after a month and underwent an operation in a London nursing home on November 10. He had a long battle for recovery, and underwent transfusion on November 15, but died to-day. His greatest regret was that he was unable to revisit an aged parent in New Zealand, and also a brother in Sydney. [The late Dr. Harold Williams was born in New Zealand about fifty years ago, his father being the Rev. W. J. Williams, a well-known Wesleyan minister of Christchurch. After a distinguished college career the son was ordained to the same ministry, but he was unable to take up any charge owing to the sudden failure of his voice, and lie turned about to prepare himself for the work of a teacher. With a natural disposition to thoroughness, lie went to Germany and entered the University of Munich as a student for a doctor’s degree in the science of philology. He remained there for two years, receiving the highest degree the university could confer. He was offered a post in a well-known American university, but declined it, deciding to leave an academic profession for that of journalism, even though he. was at the time without money and influence. He was also without journalistic experience, but nothing daunted he started out on his chosen career. While a student of Munich University he wrote a Filipino grammar, co-ordinating all the various dialects. He also mastered German, Russian, French, and about a dozen other languages, this marvellous linguistic knowledge giving him his chance. In 1902 the correspondent of “The Times” in Russia was expelled by the authorities for reporting too truthfully one of the many organised persecutions of the Jews, and Dr. Harold Williams received appointment to the post because of his knowledge of Russian and because lie had already shown a good deal of diplomatic ability. He was not, however, permitted to enter Russian territory, so his resourcefulness was put to the test at once, and for six months he lived among Russian exiles at Stuttgart, which kept him in direct and quick touch with matters Russian. At tlie end of this period the ban was removed and lie went to Petrograd, where he resided for a great number of years. During the period of the Revolution he was really the only reliable link between Russia and England, and his letters, mostly smuggled out of the country, were published in all parts of tlie world and in all languages. No name carried greater weight or inspired greater confidence than that of Harold Williams. Writing with a free pen, he became an authority on the life of the people of Russia at that particular period, and he was able to chronicle some of tlie dire happenings which showed the rest of Europe the travail Russia was experiencing in the so-called name of Freedom. He returned to London from Russia in May, 1922. and became Foreign Editor to “Tlie Times,” a position which he still occupied at tlie date of his death.] VISCOUNTESS GREY (Australian Press Association.) (Ree. November 19, 10.45 p.m.) London, November 19. The death has occurred of Viscount* ess Grey of Fallodon, after a few hours’ illness. [Viscountess Grey was the youngest daughter of the late Hon. Percy Wyndham, and was first married to Lord Glcnconner, who died in 1920, her marriage to Viscount Grey taking place in 1922. She was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, and was the author of “Tlie Earthen Vessel.” “The Sayings of the Children,” “Shepherds’ Crowns.” “Edward Wyndham Tennant,” “4th Grenadier Guards,” and other books.], COMMANDER OF THREE CUNARDERS (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) London, November IS. The death has occurred of Captain Appleton Smith, commander of three Cunarders, including the Aquitania in wartime, when during a voyage from Liverpool to 'Gallipoli she carried six thousand troops ami a thousand of a crew, tlie largest number of lives ever in one ship. Captain Smith was the originator of zig-zagging to thwart submarine attack. lie was 61 years of age.

AUSTRALIAN SENATOR Melbourne. November 19. The death is announced of Senator David Andrews, aged 50, after a long illness.