Ernest Hillas Williams
Sir Ernest Hillas Williams JP (16 August 1899–5 February 1965)[1] was an Irish judge who served as a British Empire colonial official based for most of his career in British Hong Kong and later also the second Chief Justice of the Combined Judiciary of Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei.
Career
Williams received a BA in mathematics from Trinity College Dublin in 1922. While serving in the Colonial Service, Williams was promoted from colonial administrator to puisne judge and later also served as the assistant Attorney General of Hong Kong.[2] Over the course of his time in British Hong Kong, Williams was twice appointed acting Secretary for Chinese Affairs of the Executive Council of Hong Kong.[3] Following the events of World War II, Williams was sent to British Borneo and succeeded Sir Ivor Llewellyn Brace as Chief Justice of the Combined Judiciary of Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei.[2][1]
Williams was also a sergeant in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps.[4]
Prisoner of war
Williams was a prisoner of war (POW) held at a camp in Sham Shui Po Barracks before later being moved to Innoshima, Hiroshima Prefecture by the Imperial Japanese Army.[2][5][6][7]
Honours
- United Kingdom :
- Knight Bachelor (Kt) - Sir (1957)[8]
Death
Williams died in early February 1965 whilst in the town of Málaga, Spain.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Ernest Hillas Williams". findagrave.com. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "Ernest Hillas WILLIAMS [1899-1965]". gwulo.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Members Database". Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps". hongkongwardiary.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "British POWs Innoshima POW Camp". mansell.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Roll of Honour". roll-of-honour.org.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Book 3: The POWs". hongkongwardiary.com. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD" (PDF). The London Gazette. 28 December 1956. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- 1899 births
- 1965 deaths
- People from County Cork
- People from Cork (city)
- British colonial governors and administrators
- British colonial officials
- British colonial judges in Asia
- British judges
- British Borneo judges
- Sarawak, North Borneo and Brunei judges
- British Hong Kong judges
- Irish knights
- Irish prisoners of war
- Irish people imprisoned abroad
- British World War II prisoners of war
- World War II prisoners of war held by Japan
- Knights Bachelor