Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private D. J. Williams, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, wounded whilst carrying out a patrol on the Hook, 20 May 1953

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (22636254 Pte. D. J. Williams. D.W.R.) partially officially corrected; U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed, very fine or better (2) £280-320

David J. Williams was a native of Trehafod, Rhondda, Wales. He served with the Welch Regiment prior to being drafted into the 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment to complete his 12 month tour of duty. In August 1954, having been discharged from the Army, he received a Certificate from his Commanding Officer, for his ‘outstanding contribution towards the success of the Battalion during the Korean Campaign.’

When ‘it arrived the letter was opened and found to contain a meritorious award for distinguished conduct on the field of battle in Korea. In May 1953, David and six of his colleagues were sent out on a patrol and they were ambushed by more than thirty Chinese. During the firing David was wounded in the leg and two of his companions were also wounded, but helping one another along, they managed to shoot their way out of the ambush. They returned to base with the valuable information urgently needed. For some months David lay in a base hospital, but as soon as he was recovered he was back in the front line.’ (Newspaper article included in lot refers)

The Regimental Archives give Williams as a member of one of the patrols that was engaged on 20 May 1953, during which they record him as being wounded in his right leg. This is at variance with the latest published transcription of the casualty roll, which gives the date of his wound as being 6 June 1953.

The 19/20 May 1953 for the Dukes is recorded as follows in Fortune Favours The Brave, The Battles of The Hook, Korea 1952-53:

‘Apart from an occasional stonk the Dukes had a quiet day on 19 May. The standing patrols fanned out into positions shortly after 8 pm, and none of them reported anything untoward until 12 minutes before 11pm. Then all hell broke loose. The first indication that something was about to happen was the racket created by a fight on Warsaw, where one of the standing patrols was obviously in trouble. In Stygian darkness a platoon of Chinese had succeeded in crawling up to a position from which they were able to overwhelm the patrol in a quick rush. The patrol, which had neither time nor opportunity to telephone or send a message over the wireless, fought back with bullets and grenades. The outcome was one man killed, two others wounded and the patrol commander missing. The latter had been knocked on the head and dragged back by the Chinese....

At 11pm an arabesque of red and crimson Verey lights heralded a crashing barrage. During the next hour and a half more than a thousand shells and mortar bombs fell on the Hook, effectively blotting out any chance of discovering what had happened to the patrol on Warsaw. When the counter-barrage was put-up, the continuous drumming of the shells was something to make the hair stand on end. Both sides continued firing until half past midnight, and only then was it possible for men to venture out on the Warsaw ridge. There they found casualties of the earlier action, very shaken but still holding their position.’

After discharge from the Army, Williams was employed as an Engineer for British Rail at Taff Wells.

Sold with photocopies of original documentation.