Auction Catalogue

1 December 2004

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1295

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1 December 2004

Hammer Price:
£460

An O.B.E. group of nine awarded to Colonel R. G. Williams, Indian Army, late Royal Fusiliers and 23rd London Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge; 1914-15 Star (2. Lieut., R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt., 2-4 Rajputs); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37 (Lt. Col., 3-15 Punjab R.); War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal; Coronation 1937, mounted as worn together with companion set of mounted miniatures, good very fine (18) £400-450

Roland George Williams was born in London on 20 November 1889, and was first commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 15th Royal Fusiliers on 11 December 1914. He transferred to the 23rd London Regiment in August 1915, and served in France from 25 September 1915 to 25 May 1916, including actions at Loos, Hulluch and Vimy Ridge. He transferred to the Indian Army in 1917 and served in India with the 2-112th Infantry, May 1917 to March 1918, and the 3-154th Infantry, March 1918 to August 1919.

Williams transferred to the 2-4th Rajputs in August 1919 and served with that regiment in Waziristan during 1919-24 (Medal with 2 clasps). He attended Staff College at Quetta, from February 1924 until December 1925, and was subsequently Company Commander, 2-19th Hyderabad Regiment; Officiating Brigade Major, 7th Dehra Dun Brigade, March to November 1927; D.A.A.G. Eastern Command and Coy. Commander 2-19th H.R., January 1928 to March 1931; Adjutant and Coy. Commander, 2-19th H.R., July 1931 to March 1932; G.S.O. 2 at Army H.Q., March 1932 to March 1936.

In January 1937, he took over command of the 3-15th Punjab Regiment, which he held, apart from a brief period as Officiating Commander of 9th (Jhansi) Infantry Brigade (July-August 1939), until January 1940. During this period he took part in the operations in Waziristan in 1937, and was mentioned in despatches in April 1938 for his services during the campaign. During the Second World War Williams was Commandant of the Central Internment Camp at Dehra Dun, and was released from the service in May 1947. Sold with copy service record.