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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 492

The mounted group of four miniature dress medals worn by Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Williams, Indian Army, who was killed in action in Malaya in January 1942

British War Medal 1914-20; India General Service 1908-35, 4 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919, Waziristan 1919-21, Waziristan 1921-24, North West Frontier 1930-31; India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1936-37; Jubilee 1935, mounted as worn, in a Kemp & Wilcox box, together with a Book of common prayer with handwritten naming 'J. Whittaker Williams, "F" Coy., R.M.C. 1st May 1917', good very fine (4)

John Wittaker Williams was born in November 1899, the son of Major J. A. Williams (Royal Artillery) of 15 Glenhouse Road, Eltham. Educated at Dover College and Colfe's School, he went up to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in August 1918. Transferred to the Indian Army in January 1919, he joind the 151st Punjabi Rifles, attached to the Gurkha Rifles. Williams saw active service with the Burma Rifles during the Third Afghan War and later in Waziristan.

During actions on the North West Frontier 1936-37 Williams was serving as Major and Company Commander in the 2nd Battalion, 9th Jat Regiment. By the outbreak of the Second World War he was serving as a Lieutenant-Colonel and commanding the 4th Battalion, 9th Jat Regiment.

Leading the Regiment through the Malaya Campaign Williams was with them at the Battle of Muar. The Regimental Diary notes that his head was severed by a sword as he attempted to peer over a mud bank. He is commorated at the Kranji War
Cemetery; sold together with a photograph, named book of common prayer and a collection of badges and buttons - one in silver hallmarked for Birmingham 1929 - for the 2/9th Jat Regiment in a Cashmore & Co. box with a handwritten label starting that they belonged to 'Lt. Col. John W. Williams'

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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£80