Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Shipwright G. R. Williams, Royal Navy, who survived the sinking of the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Courageous on 17 September 1939

British War Medal 1914-20 (M. 7917 G. R. Williams. B. Shpt. R.N.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with Admiralty enclosure slip, in named card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. G. R. Williams, 80A South…., St. Judes, Plymouth, Devon’; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 3rd issue, coinage head (M. 7917. G. R. Williams. Shipt. 1. H.M.S. Devonshire.) very fine or better (6) £80-£120

George Rosevear Williams was born at St. Jude’s, Plymouth, in September 1899. He enlisted into the Royal Navy in September 1917 as a Boy Shipwright and served the remainder of the Great War at Devonport Dockyard, being awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in November 1932 whilst serving with the heavy cruiser H.M.S. Devonshire.

During the early stages of the Second World War, Williams served aboard the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Courageous and was a member of her crew when she was torpedoed off the coast of Ireland and sunk with the loss of 519 men, including her captain. The survivors were rescued by the Dutch ocean liner Veendam and the British freighter Collingworth. He later served with the escort vessel depot ship H.M.S. Sandhurst and the anti-aircraft cruiser H.M.S. Colombo.