Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Acting Captain R. J. McWilliam, Manchester Regiment, late Royal Army Service Corps, later Royal Army Ordnance Corps

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Cyprus, unofficial retaining rod between clasps (Lt. R. J. Mc William. Manch.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (T/21016967 W.O. Cl. 2. R. J. Mc William. R.A.S.C.) minor official correction, mounted court-style for display, light contact marks, very fine and better, the GSM with Palestine 1945-48 clasp rare to unit (6) £160-£200

Only 17 officers and men of the Manchester Regiment received the G.S.M. with Palestine 1945-48 clasp.

Robert James McWilliam was born in Aberdeen on 21 November 1920. At the age of 15 he attested for service in the army as a ‘Boy’ soldier for general service, being posted to the Army Technical School for Boys at Chepstow. Having qualified as a blacksmith he was appointed Private No. T/71058, Royal Army Service Corps on 21 November 1938. He was posted to 7th Hussars in June 1941, and then embarking for the Western Desert joined the 10th Hussars in April 1941 as Lance Corporal. In the October of 1942 he was transferred to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. In June 1944 he was serving in H.Q. Malta, and was selected for officer training in November 1944. He was appointed to a commission in the Manchester Regiment as Second Lieutenant on 24 August 1945; his service record notes that he was granted a commission on account of his exemplary conduct.

McWilliam was posted to the 2nd Battalion the Cheshire Regiment on 30 November 1945, for service in the Middle East, Egypt and Palestine, as Acting Captain, Manchester Regiment attached Cheshire Regiment. He reverted to the Manchester Regiment and was demobilised on 13 August 1947. On return to the U.K. he re-enlisted in the ranks as a Private in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, being posted to their Depot at Norfolk and was immediately promoted to Sergeant. He was posted to Cyprus in December 1952, and was by now Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant. He was awarded the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, with gratuity in 1957. He was discharged from the army in February 1963, and died on 13 August 1992 at Gateshead.

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