Victor Williams (general)

Victor Arthur Seymour Williams
Major Victor AS Williams c. 1899
Born	1867 Port Hope, Ontario
Died	December 12, 1949 Toronto, Ontario
Allegiance	Canada
Service/branch	North-West Mounted Police,
Years of service	1886-1939
Rank	Commissioner; Major-General
Service number	317483
Unit	Canadian Mounted Rifles
Commands held	Second Boer War, Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police
Battles/wars	Battle of Mont Sorrel
Awards	Order of St. Michael and St. George
Other work	Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police

Major-General Victor Arthur Seymour Williams CMG (1867 – December 12, 1949) was a Canadian general in the First World War and later the Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police. In June 1916 he was seriously wounded and captured by the Germans. As a brigadier-general he was one of the highest ranked Canadian ever captured by the enemy.

Williams was born at Port Hope, Ontario in 1867, the son of Arthur Trefusis Heneage Williams, by his wife Emily, daughter of Benjamin Seymour. After attending Trinity College School in Port Hope, he entered the Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston, Ontario, in 1884. In 1886, “Williams was one of four new Inspectors who had attended the Royal Military College in Kingston. The other three officers were: S.T. Wood, P.C.H. Primrose, and T.W. Chalmers." Two years into his studies he was withdrawn from the college at his parents' request and entered service in the North-West Mounted Police. In December 1887 he was gazetted an inspector. He transferred to the Mounted Infantry in 1889. He married Helen Euphemia Sutherland on October 23, 1890. He eventually took a commission with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in 1893. In 1899 he went to South Africa, serving as a major and lieutenant-colonel in command of 'B' Squadron of the Canadian Mounted Rifles during the Second Boer War.

Williams was promoted brevet colonel for his overseas service and appointed commandant of the Royal School of Cavalry in Toronto. In 1907 he was appointed commanding officer of the Royal Canadian Dragoons and Inspector of Cavalry for the Dominion of Canada. In 1911 he commanded the mounted units at the Coronation of King George V. From 1912 to 1914 he was Adjutant-General at Ottawa. He commanded Valcartier Camp, Quebec, during the mobilization of the 1st Canadian Division, and accompanied the contingent overseas. During the war he served on the general staffs of Field Marshal Sir John French and the British II and III Corps.