Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry


Williams, the ‘poster boy’, on the cover of Theirs is the Glory


Williams led his men on a rapid advance, however, they eventually met resistance from five German battle Groups who were all from 9th Panzer Division and all assigned to defend the bridge approaches. The weight of fire that tore into the Battalion was immense and over this period the Battalion was effectively destroyed. Williams and his men were forced back to help form the Oosterbeek Perimeter:


‘It was mid-afternoon before the more organised parties from the four battalions which had been fighting in Arnhem appeared from under the railway bridge on the lower road. Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson received a report on the artillery wireless net from the forward observation officer with one of those units telling him that what was, in effect, all that remained of the 1st Parachute Brigade was retreating along the lower road... In such a way was the first substantial element of the eastern perimeter established.


Figures on the strength of this force vary, but by nightfall it consisted approximately of the following:


2nd South Staffords: 100 men under Major Robert Cain. 1st Parachute Battalion: 120 men under Lieutenant John Williams. 3rd Parachute Battalion: 46 men under Captain Richard Dorrien-Smith. 11th Parachute Battalion: 150 men under Major Peter Milo.


Also present were a 17-pounder and several 6-pounder anti-tank guns, some Vickers machine-guns and two artillery observation officers.’ (Ibid)


It was here, as the Germans closed in, that Williams received a gunshot wound to the right shoulder on 23 September 1944. Despite being wounded he remained in action, and was amongst those forced to withdraw across the river on the night of 25/26 September 1944. Williams returned to the UK, 30 September 1944, and was posted to Denmark in April 1945.


Williams embarked for the British Liberation Army, attached to the Arnhem Film Unit, 30 July 1945. He took part in the propaganda film Theirs Is the Glory, Men of Arnhem telling the story of the battle. Filmed on location in Arnhem & Oosterbeek during August and September 1945. XXI Independent Parachute Company alone provided between 100 and 250 personnel for the filming, those being posted to the Arnhem Film Unit from occupation duties in Norway, many of them veterans of the battle. All told, the veterans taking part in filming came from many 1st Airborne units, including XXI and other parts of the Parachute Regiment, Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, RAMC, RASC, Recce Corps and the GPR, each of whom were "rented" from the Army by Rank films at three pounds per man per day. Williams is also pictured on the cover of the DVD release of the film (copy included in lot).


Sold with the following related original documents: Bestowal Document for D.S.O., dated 9 November 1944; two War Office enclosures for Bestowal Document, one of which addressed to recipient at ‘34 Portsmouth Road, Guildford, Surrey’; Notification of Release, dated 20 March 1946; copied research and a DVD of Theirs is the Glory, Men of Arnhem, depicting the recipient on the cover.


www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)


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