Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Great War 1918 Handley Page pilot’s D.F.C. group of eight awarded to Captain, later Squadron Leader, A. W. Williams, Royal Air Force and Royal Naval Air Service, late 4th Dragoon Guards and Army Service Corps, for a low-level night raid on Ehrang Railway Junction, 2 September 1918, when he managed to drop four bombs on a moving train from 500 feet, before making several passes over the station and sidings from as low as 90 feet, all whilst under heavy machine-gun fire

Distinguished Flying Cross, G.V.R.; 1914 Star, with clasp (MS-3331 Pte. A. W. Williams. A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. W. Williams. R.A.F.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. Oak Leaf, mounted for wear, with first four related miniature awards, mounted for wear, three identity tags, cloth R.A.F. Wings, small portrait photograph of a child in a 9 ct gold mount, lid of cigarette case, embossed with crown, flying eagle and ‘R.N.A.S.’ in gold print, glazed and framed portrait photograph of recipient in uniform, leather case embossed with initials ‘A. W. W.’, Second War Campaign Medal card box of issue addressed to ‘Sqdn. Ldr. A. Watts-Williams, D.F.C., Bryn-Glas, P.O. Box 262, Nakuru, Kenya’, Holy Bible, Queen Victoria 1897 Jubilee edition, with inscription to recipient, generally good very fine (8) £2800-3200

D.F.C. London Gazette 2 November 1918 (jointly listed with his Observer):

‘Captain Williams, with 2nd Lt. Watters as Observer, took part in a night raid on a railway junction. Getting well over the objective they descended to 500 feet and released four bombs on a moving train. They then, in face of very heavy and accurate fire, flew up and down the junction and railway track at altitudes varying from 250 ft. to 90 ft., bombing the railway and sweeping the station and sidings with machine-gun fire. Captain Williams has carried out fifteen night bomb raids with great success, proving himself an able and courageous pilot. In these raids he has been ably assisted by his Observer, 2nd Lt. Watters. This officer possesses qualities invaluable in an Observer - quickness in detecting hostile movements as well as first-rate marksmanship.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1945.

Arthur Watts Williams was the son of J. W. Williams a colliery owner, and was born in Newport, Monmouthshire, in May 1895. He initially served during the Great War as a Private with the Army Service Corps, in the French theatre of war from 14 August 1914. Williams was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 4th Dragoon Guards (4th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry), 28 December 1914. He gained his Royal Aeronautical Club Certificate (No. 2705), in a Caudron Biplane at Ruffy-Baumann School, Hendon, 8 April 1916, and was commissioned Flight Sub Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Air Service, later the same month. Williams was posted for further training to R.N.A.S. Chingford, and during this time his engagement and subsequent marriage to Lettice Mabel Becker was noted in a number of newspapers and publications, including the Daily Mirror and Tatler.

Having advanced to Flight Lieutenant in December 1917, Williams transferred as Lieutenant to the Royal Air Force in April 1918. He was posted as a Pilot for operational service with 215 Squadron (Handley Pages), Alquines, France, in July 1918. Operating as part of Trenchard’s Independent Force in France, the Squadron was engaged on long range night bombing operations, including over Germany, until the Armistice. Willams, who advanced to Flight Commander, flew in at least 15 of these operations (copied bombing raid reports included in lot), targets including: Armentieres, Fives Railway, Douai, Cambrai (8), Folpersweiler Aerodrome, Boulay Aerodrome and Ehrang Railway Junction (2).

Williams was awarded the D.F.C. for the low-level raid on Ehrang Railway Junction, 2 September 1918. He advanced to Captain in April 1919, and relinquished his commission in July of the same year. After the war he resided at The Grange, Twyford, Buckinghamshire, and re-engaged as a Captain with the 99th (Buckinghamshire & Berkshire Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (T.A.), in August 1922. Williams subsequently resided in London, before moving his family to Kenya in 1936. He re-engaged for service during the Second War as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, in November 1940. Williams advanced to Flying Officer the following year, and to Temporary Squadron Leader in July 1944. He retired as Squadron Leader in September 1945, and after the war continued to reside in Kenya. He was appointed the President of the Royal Agricultural Society of Kenya. Williams died at Nyandarua, Kenya, in June 1955, and is buried in Nakuru North Cemetery.

Sold with the following related documents: Air Ministry Letter to recipient with regard to Second War Medal entitlement and enclosure of medals, addressed to him in Kenya, and dated 24 May 1955; enclosure slip for Second War Campaign Medals; newspaper cuttings and other ephemera, including photographic images of recipient in uniform and a file of copied research.