OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 79, 27 December 1939, Page 8

OBITUARY

Miss H. Williams, 0.8. E

Miss Hilda Temple Williams, 0.8. E., a member of one of tlie best known families in New Zealand, died in Christch it reh last week after an illness of several weeks, states a "Dominion” Special Service message. Miss Williams was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. 'l’. C. Williams. Wellington, and granddaughter of Archdeacon Henry Williams, who arrived in New Zealand in the Brampton in 1823. and who settled in I’aihia, Bay of Islands. There Miss Williams’s fattier was born in 1825. Later lie lived for a time in Auckland and then made his home in Wellington. Miss Williams was born at Lower Hutt and educated at .Mrs. Bwainson’s private school.

She went to England in 1913 and after the outbreak of the war, she was quick to realize tlie loneliness and friendlessness of New Zealand soldiers, who arrived in London from Gallipoli and Egypt. She established the first canteen in England for New Zealanders. It was known as "The Dug Out," and was situated in Victoria Street, London. It was financed entirely by the Williams family. Later she established “Te Whare I’uni,” a popular canteen at Hornchurch, for men from the Dominion. This was staffed by members of her family and their friends. The value of her work was soon recognized and in 1918 tlie King conferred on her tlie decoration of the Order of the British Empire. Miss Williams was also much interested in fitting up limbless soldiers in tlie earlier years of the war. She returned to New Zealand several years ago and for the last six years she lived in Christchurch, where she had many friends. A memorial service was held in St. Mary’s Church, Merivale.