Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine 8th Army M.M. awarded to Acting Sergeant J. S. Williams, 73 Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Artillery
Military Medal, G.VI.R. (1544878 A.Sjt., R.A.) contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine

M.M. London Gazette 26 August 1943.The following recommendation was extracted from official records: ‘On 19 March 1943 near DJEBEL REMTZIA Sgt Williams was in cmd of his A/Tk gun, the last one of a tp of four to come into action in front of this hill. The enemy had excellent observation facilities and brought down fire from guns, MG’s, and mortars at ranges in some cases of only 800 yds. Sgt Williams nevertheless brought his Deacon forward, fearlessly keeping his gun turret towards the enemy so that he could still fire on them should the vehicle become damaged. As he turned into a Wadi to obtain a hull down position he and all his detachment were wounded by a very close shell burst. In spite of this his one thought was to get his gun into action and not until he was satisfied that it was sited in a position best suited to its role did he turn to the wounded whom he tended as best as he could. Sgt Williams then helped one of the more seriously injured, half carrying half supporting him across an open piece of ground, swept by Brida, MG and small arms fire, to his tp HQ. He returned across the same ground and similarly helped another man across. Having made arrangements for the evacuation of both men he returned to command his gun. In all he crossed the bullet swept zone four times and on each occasion braved the most intense fire not only of MG’s of all calibres but also of enemy snipers. He spent the rest of the day without attention to his own wound, lying out in the open beside his gun watching the enemy and indicating targets. His great courage and coolness under fire, his devotion to duty and his complete disregard of his own wound and personal safety are a magnificent example and inspiration to his men.’