Herbert was a married man with an eight year ol son when he enlisted in Sydney in November 1914. He must have been determined to go to the War as he was discharged in Sydney and then enlisted the following month in Melbourne. He joined the 6th Battalion and sailed from Melbourne in February 1915 on HMAT A54 Runic.
Herbert was at Gallipoli when he was wounded. He was transferred to the hospital ship 'Gloucester Castle' where he died on 30 August 1915 and was buried at sea. His name is recorded on The Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli. Herbert's few personal possessions were returned to his wife, Constance, at Inverell. She was granted a pension of one pound per week plus an allowance of five shillings per week for her son.
At Inverell Private Herbert Williams has his name recorded on the town's Honor Roll and Cenotaph. He was one of the 215 men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade in 1919. Before the War Herbert had been a member of the North West Rugby Union based at Inverell.