Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A post-War ‘Cyprus Operations’ B.E.M. group of six awarded to Staff-Sergeant N. Williams, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (2549142 S/Sgt. Norman Williams. R.E.M.E.) in Royal Mint case of issue, with named Buckingham Palace enclosure; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (2549142. Cfn. N. Williams. R.E.M.E.) minor official correction to number; Korea 1950-53, 2nd issue (2549142 Sgt. N. Williams. R. Norfolk.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued; U.N. Medal, on UNFICYP ribbon, unnamed as issued, the latter five mounted court-style as worn, the BEM loose; together with a mounted group of four miniature dress medals comprising the first four campaign medals, good very fine and better (6) £400-£500

B.E.M. London Gazette 12 June 1965.

The original Recommendation, dated 7 January 1965, states: ‘Staff-Sergeant Williams has been the NCO in charge of 3 Flight Workshops for the past six months. Throughout this time the Flight has been detached from 2 Wing Army Air Corps in the UK for service with the United Nations Force in Cyprus; as a result Staff-Sergeant Williams has had no superior in the technical field to whom he could turn for advice.

In the last six months Staff-Sergeant Williams has been solely responsible for the servicing of three Scout helicopters and three Auster aircraft. During the period he has supervised the complete stripping and overhaul of five out of the six aircraft. Not only is this far more than might reasonably be expected in such a space of time but Staff-Sergeant Williams has also been responsible for the security of a large number of VIPs whose jobs have involved them taking trips in the aircraft operated by the Flight. It is not too much to say that the safety of such individuals as the Mediator, the Force Commander and the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Representative have all directly been the responsibility of Staff-Sergeant Williams.

To add to Staff-Sergeant Williams’ difficulties there has also at various times been an unprecedented amount of unscheduled maintenance required on the Nimbus engine of the Scout helicopter. This has resulted in a great increase in the work load and responsibility carried by Staff-Sergeant Williams; once again the problems over the Nimbus engine have entailed his taking decisions considerably more far reaching than those which might reasonably be expected of an N.C.O. of his rank and service. Staff-Sergeant Williams has accepted this extra work with cheerfulness and by his determination and example has set an outstanding standard of responsibility and devotion to duty for all ranks in the Flight.

It is almost entirely due to Staff-Sergrant Williams’ loyalty, devotion to duty, and exceptional readiness to undertake responsibility that it has been possible to keep the Scout helicopters on the island operational. Staff-Sergeant Williams’ work has thus directly affected the operational efficiency of the U.N. Force; his conduct throughout the period has been worthy of the highest praise.’