Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War M.B.E. group of ten awarded to Quarter-Master Sergeant and Acting Staff Sergeant-Major R. C. Williams, Cameron Highlanders

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1918; Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (2489. O:R: Sgt. R. Williams. 1/Cam: Hrs.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (2489 O-R: Sejt. R. Williams, 1: Cam’n: H’Drs:); King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2489 Clr:-Serjt: R. Williams. Cameron Highrs:); 1914-15 Star, unnamed; British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (3-6204 T.W.O.Cl.1. R. C. Williams. Cam’n Highrs.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (2489 Q.M. Sjt: R. Williams. Cameron Hdrs.); Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (3-6204 Q.M. Sjt:-A.S.S. Mjr: R. C. Williams. 5/Cam’n Highrs:); Khedive's Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum (2489 O.R. Sgt. Williams 1. Cam. Highrs.) contemporarily engraved in the usual style associated with the Regiment, polished, good very fine and better (10) £1,400-£1,800

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2018 (when sold without the M.B.E. or 1914-15 Star).

M.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 15 June 1916.

M.S.M. London Gazette 17 June 1918 (France - one of only two awarded to the 5th Battalion).

Roderick Chisholm Williams attested for the Cameron Highlanders on 24 April 1891 and was posted to the 1st Battalion. He served as a Sergeant in ‘A’ Company in the Sudan, and was still serving, as Quartermaster Sergeant of this Company, when he was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in 1910. Mentioned several times in Regimental Journal, he was Recommended for an Annuity Meritorious Service Medal in 1912, and was discharged to pension on 6 July 1913, the Regimental Journal stating that nearly all his service had been spent in the Orderly Room.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Williams re-enlisted in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion on 5 October 1914, and served during the Great War as an Orderly Room Sergeant with the 5th Battalion on the Western Front from 11 May to 11 November 1915. Thereafter he served as Superintending Clerk, General Headquarters, 3rd Echelon, and was discharged on 22 April 1919. For his services during the Great War he was awarded an ‘Immediate’ Meritorious Service Medal, one of only two awarded to the 5th Battalion, and was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire. He died in Edinburgh on 25 September 1941.

Only nine M.B.E.s were awarded to the Cameron Highlanders for the Great War. Williams is the only Warrant Officer on the list, although there is a retired Regimental Sergeant Major who was awarded a Civil M.B.E. for his services as Chairman of the Regimental Comforts Fund.

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