Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War ‘Immediate’ M.M. group of six awarded to Private W. J. Willison, 7th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, for gallantry in rescuing a wounded comrade at Cassino, Italy, only reaching the man after three hours in “No Man’s Land” under machine-gun and sniper fire

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6297830 Pte. W. J. Willison. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.) minor official correction to ‘Bucks’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, nearly extremely fine (6) £800-1000

M.M. London Gazette 23 March 1944. The recommendation for an Immediate M.M. states:

‘At 0700 hrs 12 Nov 43 in the area 953073 (ITALY - 1:50,000 Sheet 160 (ii) CASSINO) this man heard the cries of a wounded man just forward of his position. He and No. 5507115 Pte. Regan, C., immediately volunteered to go out and look for this man. Just after starting out they came under fire from enemy MG and sniper posts and the stretcher they were carrying was destroyed by enemy fire. In spite of this, Pte. Willison continued to crawl forward, and after three hours in “No Man’s Land” succeeded in reaching the wounded man whom he found already to be on a stretcher. He began his return journey well knowing that the enemy had indiscriminately been shooting stretcher-bearer parties.

At 1230 hrs he was seen by the Coldstream Guards to be in difficulty, but after the Guards had laid on some covering fire he was able to return to our lines. In addition to the wounded man, Ptes. Willison and Regan brought in with them two Germans who had given themselves up. Immediately on returning, Pte. Willison expressed his willingness to go out again should the necessity arise. Pte. Willison’s actions showed the highest courage and devotion to duty.’