Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Petty Officer 1st Class William F. Williams, Royal Navy

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1891-2 (A.B., H.M.S. Widgeon); 1914-15 Star (146680 P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (146680 P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (146680 P.O. 1Cl., H.M.S. Cambridge) good very fine (5) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of East and West Africa Medals to the Royal Navy.

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William Frederick Williams was born in Plymouth on 7 July 1873. A Shipyard Labourer by occupation, he entered into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard Impregnable on 18 October 1888 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class on the Lion in October 1889. Serving on the Widgeon, May 1890-October 1893, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in July 1891 and Able Seaman in November the same year. Whilst on the ship he served in the expeditions in Gambia against Chief Fodeh Cabbah, December 1891 February 1892, for which he was awarded the East & West Africa Medal with clasp for ‘1891-2’, one of 50 men from the vessel to be awarded the clasp. In April 1898 whilst on the Magnificent he was advanced to Leading Seaman and in 1900 when on the Cambridge was promoted in April to Petty Officer 2nd Class and in November to Petty Officer 1st Class. In November 1910 he was pensioned ashore, joining the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and thence in February 1914 the Royal Fleet Reserve. He was recalled to service as a Petty Officer with the Royal Navy in May 1915, serving on Vivid I, Edgar and Europa during the war. He was demobilized in March 1919. Williams rejoined the Royal Navy and served as an Able Seaman, April 1921-March 1926 before being discharged to shore for the final time. Sold with copied service papers.