Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.C. group of three attributed to Lieutenant G. H. Williams, Cheshire Regiment

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, in its case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. G. H. Williams), extremely fine (3) £500-600

M.C. London Gazette 1 February 1919:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 27 September 1918, near Baralle. His company was working with the R.E. on the bridges across the Canal du Nord and Agache River. When the situation was most confused, he went forward and directed the work of carrying up bridging material, under heavy machine-gun fire. He also did good reconnaissance work of the forward areas both before and after the operations.’

Gerald Hassal Williams, who was born in Liverpool in May 1892, the son of a Marine Insurance Broker, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Cheshire Regiment direct from the 46th Provisional Battalion in January 1916. Entering the French theatre of war for the first time in February 1917, he was awarded the M.C. in respect of his gallantry with the 1/5th (Earl of Chester’s) Battalion at Baralle in September 1918. Williams was demobilised in January 1919; sold with research.

Around a dozen officers with the same surname and initials are listed in the index of the Army List for November 1918, at least one of whom was also awarded the M.C.