An interesting M.B.E. group of eleven awarded to Major L. J. Williams, The Buffs, Regimental Sergeant Major of the 1st Battalion in Palestine

The Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) 2nd type; British War and Victory Medals (265845 Sjt., Midd’x R.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6191498 W.O.Cl.1, The Buffs); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals; Coronation 1937; Coronation 1953; Regular Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (6191498 W.O.Cl.II, The Buffs); Denmark, Liberty Medal, Christian X, silver, together with bestowal document, dated 24 May 1946, and forwarding letter from the Danish Embassy, the group mounted as worn, the Great War medals polished, otherwise good very fine and better (11) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brett Collection of Medals to The Buffs.

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Lionel John Williams was born on 21 October 1898. He served with the Middlesex Regiment in France and Belgium, September 1917 to August 1918, and was wounded. He served in the ranks for 10 years 33 days, as W.O. Class 2 for 10 years 275 days, and as Regimental Sergeant Major for 4 Years 308 days. He was R.S.M. of the 1st Battalion in Palestine and at the outbreak of the war until he was commissioned Lieut. & Quartermaster in November 1942. He was awarded King Christain X’s Liberty Medal in 1946 ‘in consideration of the valuable assistance rendered to Denmark during the war.’ Williams ended the war as Acting Major and was awarded the M.B.E. in 1948 when he was Major and Quartermaster stationed with the regiment in Hong Kong. Major Williams retired in 1953.