The reasons behind Sydney Williams Military Medal

The beginning of July marks the end of the time for which Sydney Williams carried out the actions that later earned him a Military Medal. He was granted the medal on 21 September 1916, and the citation says:

This Sergeant has been with the Artillery since the beginning of their campaign. He has been with the Trench Mortar since these Batteries were formed and has at all times shown great courage and bravery.

In the operations of June 3rd - July 1st when his late commanding Officer and 4 other ranks were wounded, he took command and had all the Mortars returned from the front line and assisted the rest of the night in the evacuation of the wounded from the trenches. He has always put duty first having refused leave of absence on two occasions so that he might be with his Battery during bombardments.

I cannot find any reference in the official history nor other writings to more specific details about the operations referred to above.

I only came across this citation last year, and cried when I read it - perhaps because I was coming to know my grandfather a little more; perhaps recognition of a bravery in him which I feel I lack; or perhaps a bravery I do have, but have not been yet been called upon so clearly to exercise.

A friend quoted to me years ago, from Mark Twain I believe: "Courage is acting despite the fear".

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Coincidentally, I learn only today that on this day in Belgium (3 July 2016), the first official New Zealand remembrance ceremony will be held at the war cemetery at Armentières, "to commemorate the sacrifice of the New Zealand Soldiers in the start of the Battle of the Somme", already underway elsewhere on the Western Front at this time 100 years ago - and which the New Zealand Division would soon be joining.

The Armentières cemetery holds the biggest concentration of identified New Zealand graves from World War I in one single place.