Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Chief Armourer G. Williams, Royal Navy, who survived the sinking of H.M.S. Ocean during the Dardanelles Campaign in March 1915

1914-15 Star (143527, G. Williams, Ch. Ammr, R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (143527 G. Williams. Ch. Amr. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension, impressed naming (Geo. Williams, Ch. Armr., H.M.S. Resolution.) very fine and better (4) £160-£200

George Williams was born in Devonport on 15 October 1869 and joined the Royal Navy as Armaments Crewman on 16 December 1887. Raised Chief Armourer at Vivid II on 4 June 1898, he was awarded the L.S. & G.C. Medal on 13 March 1903. Posted to the pre-dreadnought battleship Ocean at the start of the Great War, Williams was present during the attack on Basra and transfer to Egypt in the defence of the Suez Canal. He was later rescued from the wreck of the Ocean on 18 March 1915 after striking a mine during the Dardanelles campaign; subsequent salvage efforts were later abandoned due to heavy gunfire from the Ottoman forts and Ocean was left to sink in Morto Bay.

Posted briefly to the store ship and boom defence vessel Fauvette at Mudros, Williams was transferred to the minesweeper Hussar on 18 April 1915 which at that time was under the Captaincy of Commander Edward Unwin; a week later Unwin took command of the steamer River Clyde during the landing at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915 - he and two crewman from Hussar later received the Victoria Cross for their actions during the landing. Sent to the repair ship Reliance on 15 June 1915, Williams was demobilised on 11 May 1919.