Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War Ypres 1914 operations M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant H. C. Williams, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment, who ‘was struck in the head by shrapnel, several pieces of which penetrated his skull, but continued fighting for eight hours longer’: he was accidentally shot and killed instantly a few days after returning to the Front in October 1915

Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued, with case of issue; 1914 Star, with clasp (Lieut., The Queen’s R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lieut.), together with related Memorial Plaque (Hubert Cracroft Williams) extremely fine (5) £2000-2500

M.C. London Gazette 18 February 1915.

No better summary of Williams’ career is to be found than that published in Memorials to Old Rugbeians:

‘Hubert Cracroft Williams was the only son of Arthur Williams, M.B., B.C. (Cantab.), and of Harriet his wife, of St. Leonard’s-on-Sea, and nephew of Dawson Williams, M.D., F.R.C.P. (Lond.), editor of the “British Medical Journal”.

He entered the School in 1906, won his cap in 1910, and in the same term passed into the R.M.C. Sandhurst. He was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion The Queen’s in February 1912, and was promoted Lieutenant in January 1914.

He went to the Front early in October 1914, and at the end of that month was severely wounded at Ypres. He was struck in the head by shrapnel, several pieces of which penetrated his skull, but he continued fighting for eight hours longer. For his gallantry on this occasion he was afterwards awarded the Military Cross.

On recovery he was for some time Signalling Officer at Harwich, but returned to France attached to the 1st Battalion in October 1915. While the company, of which he was in command, was engaged in work on a new trench in front of their old line, Lieutenant Williams went forward to superintend the work, and was accidentally shot and killed instantly on the night of 18 October 1915. Age 23.

He was mentioned in despatches of 14 January 1915, and was awarded the Military Cross on 18 February 1915.

A brother officer wrote:

“He was the best and bravest fellow that ever stepped this earth. Everybody, I know, who ever met him, simply adored him. Duty was his watchword, and no price was too high for him where duty was concerned. He has always been my ideal of what an officer should be.”

A distinguished soldier, a friend of his family, wrote:

“Although I had not seen him for a long time, I have watched his career with great interest, frequently asking about him when I met brother officers of his, and have always heard him very highly spoken of as a great favourite in his regiment and a most promising young officer.’

And in another letter it was said:

“I am sure I need not tell you that everyone connected with the Queen’s feels a loss which is more than personal. His gallantry and gay courage made everyone proud of such an officer in a regiment full of brave men.” ’