Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good Second War ‘Gothic Line’ M.C. group of ten to Major G. B. ‘Bert’ Williamson, Bedfordshire Regiment, later Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, including a most unusual issue of the M.S.M.

Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse dated ‘1945’; 1914-15 Star (2915 Pte., Bedf. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2915 Pte., Bedf. R.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and war Medals; Army Long Service and Good Conduct, G.V.R., Regular Army (5943571 W.O.Cl.II., Bedf. & Herts. R.); Army Meritorious Service, G.V.R. (5943571 C.S.M., Beds. & Herts.), an official replacement issue but the obverse struck with the unissued crowned and robed bust as with the Army L.S. & G.C., type 3; together with card boxes of issue for Second War medals and M.S.M.; Regimental and other sports prize medals(31), including, gold (2), silver (16), bronze (13), many cased; a quantity of original documentation, including various photographs (many of him in regimental sports teams), Military Identity Cards (2), certificate of appreciation for good service from ‘General Headquarters, Home Forces, 10 January 1942’, etc., the Great War trio polished, otherwise generally good very fine or better, the last medal an extremely interesting Royal Mint error and probably unique(10) £1000-1200

M.C. London Gazette 8 February 1945. The recommendation states ‘On 30 August 1944 this 48 year old Company Commander led his Coy. across the River Foglia to capture a key position Monte Vecchia in the Gothic Line.

After initial penetration of the outer crust of defences had been dealt with, Major Williamson manoeuvred his Coy. up to the village which was situated on a sheer and bare hillside 650ft. above the river bed. With two other Platoons under command he attacked at dawn on 31 August 1944.

Not only did this officer show utter determination to clear the enemy from the objective but he so inspired all under his command by his complete indifference to the heavy enemy fire directed at any men who moved, that the troops soon got in amongst the enemy and completely killed or captured every one.

Major Williamson’s masterly tactics destroyed a very strong enemy locality with few casualties but at great cost to the enemy, approximately 30 killed and 45 captured.’

Despite the recipients christened forenames of Gilbert Archibald, all his named medals bear the single initial ‘B’.