Orders, Decorations and Medals

Seven: Captain (formerly Regimental Sergeant Major) Shem Williams, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who served in North Nigeria in 1902 and was wounded in late 1914 and at the Battle of Loos in September 1915

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, N. Nigeria (3358 Serjt., 1st R. Welsh Fus.); 1914 Star, with clasp (3358 R. S. Mjr., 1/R. W. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.); Coronation 1911; Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (3358 C. Sjt., Rl. Welsh Fus.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.VI.R., type 3 (3358 W.O.Cl.1., R.W.F.) first with re-pinned suspension claw, contact wear and edge bruising, therefore good fine, otherwise generally very fine and better and the first extremely rare to the regiment (7) £500-600

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Fine Collection of Medals to 'Old Contemptibles' formed by Major Bob Keay.

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M.S.M. awarded in Army Order 98 of 1953 without annuity.

Captain (formerly R.S.M.) Shem Williams was born in Everton, Lancashire in 1872 and enlisted into th eRoyal Welsh Fusiliers in 1891, aged 19.

He was present in West Africa September 1898 to December 1899 and again during the Bornu Expedition in West Africa in 1902 (medal and clasp). In June 1911 he was one of a representative detachment from the 1st Battalion, comprising 3 officers, 50 men and a goat sent to London to attend the Coronation of King George V.

Captain Williams . He served in France and Flanders with the B.E.F. in the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major from 6 October 1914. He received his commission in the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the rank of Lieutenant in January 1915 and was wounded at the Battle of Loos the following September. He was promoted Captain on 1 October 1918 at which time he was employed with the Garrison Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. (Regimental Records of The Royal Welch Fusiliers, by Major C. H. Dudley Ward, DSO, MC confirms).

Sold with copied service papers which confirm that he was wounded in October 1914 ‘shrapnel bullet wound of the left arm’ and‘[September] 1915 ‘gunshot wound back.’