Edward Gordon Williams (20 July 1888 – 12 August 1915) was a British

rower Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars (called blades in the United Kingdom) are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are ...

who competed in the

1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were originally schedu ...

. He was killed in action during the First World War. Williams was born at

Honiton Honiton () is a market town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, Devon, River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. Honiton has a population estimated at 12,154 (based on 2021 census). History The ...

, Devon, and educated at

Eton Eton most commonly refers to Eton College, a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. Eton may also refer to: Places *Eton, Berkshire, a town in Berkshire, England *Eton, Georgia, a town in the United States *Éton, a commune in the Meuse depa ...

and

Trinity College, Cambridge Trinity College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, Trinity is one of the largest Cambridge colleges, with the largest financial endowment of any ...

, where he was a member of the

Pitt Club The University Pitt Club, popularly referred to as the Pitt Club, the UPC, or merely as Club, is a private members' club of the University of Cambridge. It was formerly male-only, and has admitted women since 2017. History The Pitt Club was ...

. He rowed for

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

in the

Boat Race The Boat Race is an annual set of rowing races between the Cambridge University Boat Club and the Oxford University Boat Club, traditionally rowed between open-weight eights on the River Thames in London, England. It is also known as the Uni ...

in 1908. The Cambridge crew made up a boat in the eights which won the bronze medal for Great Britain

rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics At the 1908 Summer Olympics, four rowing events were contested, all for men only. Races were held at Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames ( ) is a town status in the United Kingdom, town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish on the Riv ...

. He rowed for Cambridge in the Boat Race in 1909 and also in 1909 partnered Banner Johnstone to win the

Silver Goblets The Silver Goblets & Nickalls' Challenge Cup is a Rowing (sport), rowing event for men's coxless pairs at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs ...

Henley Royal Regatta Henley Royal Regatta (or Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage) is a Rowing (sport), rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. It was established on 26 March 1839. It diffe ...

against Julius Beresford and

Karl Vernon Karl Vernon Military Medal, MM (19 June 1880 – 11 July 1973), sometimes known by his nickname The Bean, was a British Rowing (sport), rower and coach who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics. Life Vernon was born in Neuenahr, Rheinland-Pf ...

. He raced in the 1910 Boat Race. Williams was appointed as a colonial administrator in

North-Western Rhodesia North-Western Rhodesia, in south-central Africa, was a territory administered from 1891 until 1899 under charter by the British South Africa Company. In 1890 the British South Africa Company signed a treaty with King Lewanika of the Barotse, on ...

.The Commonwealth & Empire Review
/ref> He then served in the First World War as a lieutenant with the

Grenadier Guards The Grenadier Guards (GREN GDS) is the most senior infantry regiment of the British Army, being at the top of the Infantry Order of Precedence. It can trace its lineage back to 1656 when Lord Wentworth's Regiment was raised in Bruges to protect ...

. He was killed in action at age 27 near

Béthune Béthune ( ; archaic and ''Bethwyn'' historically in English) is a town in northern France, Subprefectures in France, sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais Departments of France, department. Geography Béthune is located in the Provinces of Fran ...

and was buried at St. Venant Communal Cemetery nearby.Williams, Edward Gordon
''Commonwealth War Graves Commission'', retrieved 19 August 2008

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Edward 1888 births 1915 deaths Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge British military personnel killed in World War I British male rowers Grenadier Guards officers People educated at Eton College Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain Olympic rowers for Great Britain Rowers at the 1908 Summer Olympics Olympic medalists in rowing Medalists at the 1908 Summer Olympics British Army personnel of World War I Military personnel from Devon Burials in Hauts-de-France

See also

References

External links