Orders, Decorations and Medals

Five: Lieutenant-General Sir W. J. Williams, K.C.B., Royal Artillery

Crimea 1854-56, 1 clasp, Sebastopol, unnamed as issued; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Jowaki 1877-8 (Colonel W. J. Williams, C.B. Royal Arty.); Afghanistan 1878-80, 1 clasp, Ali Musjid (Lieut. Col. W. J. Williams, R.H.A.); Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Turkish Crimea, Sardinian issue, unofficial type by ‘J.B.’, unnamed, edge bruising and contact marks, otherwise nearly very fine or better (5) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The collection of Medals formed by the Late Clive Nowell.

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William John Williams joined the Royal Artillery as a 2nd Lieutenant on 2 May 1847, becoming Lieutenant in June 1848, and Captain in August 1854. He served in the Crimean campaign from May 1855, including the siege and fall of Sebastopol (wounded), in the Trenches with the siege train, and at the bombardments of 6 and 17 June (Brevet of Major, Medal with Clasp, 5th Class of the Medjidie, and Turkish Medal.

The regimental history quotes a letter from General Dacres to General Simpson, dated 14 September 1855: ‘I have this moment received two notes from General Officers Windham and Straubenzee, mentioning the gallantry of Captain Williams during the attack on the Redan on the 8th, when he was acting ADC to the latter; it was equally conspicuous on August 18th when he commanded the spiking party.’ Of this spiking party of 30 men, 11 were killed or wounded and Captain Williams was thenceforward known as “Devil Williams.

Promoted to Colonel by Brevet in January 1876, Williams served with the Jowaki Afreedee Expedition in 1877-78 in command of the Artillery (mentioned in despatches, Medal with Clasp). He also served in the Afghan War in 1878-79, and was present in the attack and capture of Ali Musjid (mentioned in despatches, Medal with Clasp). He was confirmed in the rank of Colonel in September 1879 and was later Colonel Commandant, R.A., Dublin Garrison.