Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914 Star (3052 Pte. J. R. Williams, 10/L’pool. R.) nearly extremely fine £80-100

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals to the Liverpool Regiment from the Collection of Hal Giblin.

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John Rhonwy Williams was born on 6 December 1893, the son of Alderman W. H. Williams (once Lord Mayor of Liverpool) and Mrs Williams of Princes Park Mansions, Liverpool. He enlisted into the ranks of the Liverpool Scottish on 5 August 1914, the day after war was declared, and accompanied the original contingent to France aboard the S.S. Maidan in November 1914. Early in 1915 he returned to the U.K., being gazetted Second Lieutenant on 15 May 1915 and was posted to the 2/10th Battalion, which battalion he accompanied overseas on 21 July 1915 with the rank of Lieutenant. He was promoted to the rank of Temporary Captain on 14 February 1916, and given command of ‘A’ Company, with whom he was severely wounded in the attack at Guillemont on 9 August 1916, where he was taken prisoner, subsequently dying in German hands in a St Quentin hospital on 12 August 1916, aged 21. Sold with an original photograph of recipient taken whilst a Private in the Liverpool Scottish, and a copy of a newspaper obituary, which includes a picture of Williams whilst an officer.