Portrait of a Material Major
Major William Williams MM TD Royal Artillery
The Man William Williams was born on Sunday 3rd November 1895 in Bolton, Lancashire. He was the eldest son of Thomas Henry Williams, a Cloth Warehouseman and Mary Ann nee Howarth, a cloth Weaver. His two brothers were John Henry born in 1898 and Stanley 1899. William was baptised a month later on 1st December 1895 at Christ Church, Walmsley and lived with his parents at 3 Pilling Cottages, Cox Green Road, Egerton. By the time of the 1901 census, William now aged 5 was living with his family at 3 Rock Terrace, Smith Lane, Egerton, whilst his paternal Grandmother, Elizabeth lived next door at number 5 with her daughters. 10 years later in 1911 and following his formal education William was living at number 5 with his Grandmother and Aunts Lucy and working as a Cloth Opener Out at the local bleach works. William enlisted into the Territorial Force some time during the next three years serving in the 2/IV North Midlands Brigade Royal Field Artillery and then C/298th Brigade RFA during World War One. His service number was 710190 and he rose to the rank of Sergeant serving in France for the duration of the war. He was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field which appeared in the London Gazette of 21st August 1917 and also the 1914-18 British War, Victory and Territorial Force War Medals. In April 1922 William married Florence Howarth (no relation to his mother) and re-enlisted into the Territorial Army on 10th April 1926, and Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the 53rd (Bolton) Field Brigade Territorial Army at the Bolton Drill Hall, Silverwell Street, Bolton in Lancashire, with service number 34795.
On 10th April 1929 he was promoted to Lieutenant, Captain on 23rd March 1930 and Major on 1st April 1933. In 1939 he was living with Florence at Stonehouse, Chapeltown Road, Bromley Cross, Bolton. William’s civilian occupation was listed as a Cotton Waste Merchant, whilst Florence was doing unpaid domestic duties, however she was also listed as being a Junior Commander (Captain) in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. William was mobilised for war service prior to the start of World War Two and on 12th December 1940 reverted to the rank of Captain at his own request and whilst employed during the ‘present’ emergency. On 11th July 1941 he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ and on 8th August 1941 restored to the rank of Major. He was awarded the 1939-1945 British War Medal and Defence Medal for his services and after the war transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers. On 21st March 1951 having exceeded the age limit of liability to recall he ceased to belong to the TARO and retired retaining the rank of Major. Sadly William died only a year later during the second quarter of 1952 aged just 56.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Major William Williams were acquired from the Orders & Medals Research Society annual convention London on 23rd September 2006. Basic information has been obtained from the London Gazette to establish a brief military biography. With the medals came a large oil painting of William Williams which is reproduced above and was painted by Matthew R Leeming of Manchester in 1938. It is of note that the service number on the Territorial Force War Medal is incorrect as it impressed 710910 whereas the others are all numbered correctly 710190. No further detail could be found on Ancestry.UK as William Williams is a common name. However on 12th May 2018, an e mail was received from William’s first cousin twice removed! He kindly provided some crucial dates and names that enabled a more detailed biography to be completed.
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53rd (Bolton) Field Artillery Regiment
The 53rd (Bolton) Field Regiment (TA), consisting of 209th and 210th (East Lancashire) Batteries served with the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) in France in 1940, in the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, along side the 51st Field Regiment, and was evacuated at Dunkirk. Later 438th Battery joined the Regiment and it served with the 7th Armoured Division during El Alamein in October 1942. Later it served with the 8th Indian Division in Italy, including the battles for Cassino. It returned to the UK in July 1945.
The 53rd (Bolton) Field Regiment (TA), consisting of 209th and 210th (East Lancashire) Batteries served with the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) in France in 1940, in the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, along side the 51st Field Regiment, and was evacuated at Dunkirk. Later 438th Battery joined the Regiment and it served with the 7th Armoured Division during El Alamein in October 1942. Later it served with the 8th Indian Division in Italy, including the battles for Cassino. It returned to the UK in July 1945.
Royal Artillery
Brief History Of Artillery
The story of artillery goes back to pre-Roman times when slings, catapults and ballistas were used to project missiles. Later, longbows propelled arrows both as direct and indirect fire. The English first used guns in battle alongside longbows at Crécy in 1346. Since then it has used them in almost every war and campaign it has fought throughout the world, but it was almost four hundred years before a permanent force of artillery was formed. In peacetime, guns were kept in castles and were looked after by Gunners, skilled in their manufacture and so most knowledgeable in their use. In wartime, men were recruited and trained into a Trayne of Artillery, until on 26 May 1716 the first two Companies of Artillery were formed by Royal Warrant at Woolwich. The guns of the Royal Artillery are the Regiment's Colours, in the same way that the flags and guidons of infantry regiments are theirs, leading them into battle. The Colours represent pride in the Regiment, so the guns are protected and retained at all costs. If the situation demands that they are left behind they must be disabled or destroyed. The gun depicted on the cap badge is a 9pdr Rifled Muzzle Loader of about 1871, and the rammer used to ram the charge into the muzzle is also seen, to the left of the carriage wheel. "Ubique", surmounting the gun, means "Everywhere", and the Motto below Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt, "Where right and glory lead us". Prior to 1900 artillery batteries were independent units, being attached to brigades and divisions as necessary, but early in the 1900's Brigades of Artillery were formed consisting of 2 to 4 batteries. In the 1930's these Brigades became the Regiments we now know.
The story of artillery goes back to pre-Roman times when slings, catapults and ballistas were used to project missiles. Later, longbows propelled arrows both as direct and indirect fire. The English first used guns in battle alongside longbows at Crécy in 1346. Since then it has used them in almost every war and campaign it has fought throughout the world, but it was almost four hundred years before a permanent force of artillery was formed. In peacetime, guns were kept in castles and were looked after by Gunners, skilled in their manufacture and so most knowledgeable in their use. In wartime, men were recruited and trained into a Trayne of Artillery, until on 26 May 1716 the first two Companies of Artillery were formed by Royal Warrant at Woolwich. The guns of the Royal Artillery are the Regiment's Colours, in the same way that the flags and guidons of infantry regiments are theirs, leading them into battle. The Colours represent pride in the Regiment, so the guns are protected and retained at all costs. If the situation demands that they are left behind they must be disabled or destroyed. The gun depicted on the cap badge is a 9pdr Rifled Muzzle Loader of about 1871, and the rammer used to ram the charge into the muzzle is also seen, to the left of the carriage wheel. "Ubique", surmounting the gun, means "Everywhere", and the Motto below Quo Fas et Gloria Ducunt, "Where right and glory lead us". Prior to 1900 artillery batteries were independent units, being attached to brigades and divisions as necessary, but early in the 1900's Brigades of Artillery were formed consisting of 2 to 4 batteries. In the 1930's these Brigades became the Regiments we now know.
Medal Details
- Military Medal: 71090 SJT.J.WILLIAMS. C.298/BDE. R.F.A.T.F.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 71090 A.SJT. W.WILLIAMS. R.A.
- Victory Medal: 71090 A.SJT. W.WILLIAMS. R.A.
- Territorial Force War Medal: 710910 CPL. W.WILLIAMS. R.A.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Decoration: 1941
This page last updated 28 May 18