major j.c.w.williams

[oliver]

Could anyone tell me how and when did Major J.C.W.Williams who is in the Bn Hq photograph of the 1980's became a recipient of the M.C.?

[dutchman]

i may be wrong and if so al will put me right but it may have been when we were in belfast in 81 after one the hunger strikers funerals when we grabbed the firing party , likei say i may be wrong

[jeffdj]

yes it was during the Belfast tour received medal from queen on 9th feb 82 along with the CO reece DSO maj ross dcoy at time i think MBE
c/sgt williams54 DCM and mark adams77 the MM both A Coy

[Aled Roberts]

Ties is with what I have.

MC 15.12.1981 - Service in Northern Ireland during the period 1st May 1981 to 31st July 1981

He was also MiD 18th December 1973 (Service in Northern Ireland during the period 1st May 1973 to 31st July 1973) & received a QCVS on the 26th April 1994. (Service in Northern Ireland during the period 1st April 1993 to 30th September 1993)

[oliver]

Thank you very much gentlemen.

[Rog Ball 01]

Was he not OC A Coy on the 81 tour?

[dutchman]

yes he was oc a coy

[benney]

Me personaly i thought he was a bloody good oc on that tour

[BennytheBall]

Ben
JCW finished as Lt Col and is very high up in the Army Benevolent Fund I think working out of Chester, He is also a Trustee on the RWF Comrades' Executive Committee.

I Think he was award the Mc same time as Mark Adams MM Des Williams DCM and a few others that can't come to mind at the moment.

Best Regards
BennytheBall

[nasher546]

I ended up doing a Pre Release Course with JCW, (Garden Wall Construction). His walls were like my left leg but what a guy. Lots of respect for him as an Officer, I would have followed him anywhere.

[Rog Ball 01]

Ben
JCW finished as Lt Col and is very high up in the Army Benevolent Fund I think working out of Chester, He is also a Trustee on the RWF Comrades' Executive Committee.

I Think he was award the Mc same time as Mark Adams MM Des Williams DCM and a few others that can't come to mind at the moment.

Best Regards
BennytheBall

Slioghtly wrong Benney, JCW make full colonel.

Rog

[keithwill38]

I first met jcw when i joined the BN in Minden in 1966 when he was a young LT in charge of continuation training,and had quite a lot of contact with him thru Bn and Depot rugby and also when he was OC A Coy in Lemgo,a first class officer and a good freind.

[Rog Ball 01]

I agree there. He was always available to assist, or to talk to you.

[nasher546]

Just thinking of that 81' tour of Belfast with JCW (MC), Des 54 (DCM), Mark Adams (MM), OC D Coy (MBE) and quite a few MIDs and GOC Commendations. If my memory serves me correct (Al or Rich may prove me wrong), 1RWF held the record for the most awards in one single tour in N.I, a record I believe was never broken throughout Op Banner.

[Gwyn Nicholas]

Should have been CO 1st Battalion!

[Rog Ball 01]

Re the 81 tour we did receive the most awards for an Op Banner tour.

I agree to Gwyn, JCW should have been CO of the Bn.

[Aled Roberts]

On the 15th December 1981 the Bn were awarded one DSO, one MC, one DCM, one MM, one MBE & six MiD's

:notworthy:

[nasher546]

Have to reiterate what Gwyn has said. Should have been C.O 1st Btn.

Thanks again to Rich, you are a mind of information.

[ap1]

What a great thread, and long overdue.

My viewpoint is from that of a 17yr old in Lemgo, JC took over Alphas in late 79 and for the next 2 years he ruled us with an iron rod. He could be stern and kind in equal measure. As a young man I probably resented his style, but of course at that age you resented any authority. On muster he would tower above you, then lean forward and looking deep into your eyes say "Why haven't you brushed your boots?" I can still feel my legs shaking, as I stumbled for a reply....Equally if he was praising you, it made you feel 10ft tall.

Only later as I matured and looked back did I realise he was spot on. Reading Keith 38's post(we were in alphas at the same time, although Keith was a Sgt) its clear Keith got what he was all about, long before me. Its called leadership.

Without doubt his finest hour was Belfast 81. Although to be fair every RWF company had great leaders, they needed to be. The pressure on all of them must have been enormous, although as a buckshee fusilier I would have been totally unaware of that. JC monitored the radio 24hrs aday, he deployed to his men on almost all of the incidents that occurred, he would often rock up with the QRF, his springer spaniel camp dog, nestled at his feet in his 1/2ton landrover. Straight out of the vehicle, he would be talking to his men, checking fire positions, cordon integrity etc. It must have been a real pain for the junior commanders, it certainly was for the Fusiliers, but it kept all of us on our toes and we never lost anyone.

Two small incidents spring to mind, nothing hugely earthshattering but they have remained in my memory. Firstly after a particualy nasty incident on the Shaws Rd. He pulled up at the minetape, it wasnt a pretty sight, and I was clearly a shocked young Fusilier. He came straight up to me, placed his hand on my shoulder, said a few reassuring words, and that was it...job done, and it made a massive difference to that young man.

The other is the Agnes Drive incident after the funeral. When we were in danger of being overwhelmed by the rioters. We had run out of baton rds, and Jimmy Hawkins had narrowly avoided being dragged off by the mob, JCW in a makralon landrover driven by Meurig 50 punched their way through a huge rioting mob, to deposit baton rds with us. That intervention prevented us from opening fire on the crowd. That day could have ended so differently.

At the comrades reunion my peer group always have a laugh and a joke with JCW when we meet up with him. He always remembers our names. He's always smiling and very easy company. Who could be afraid of him??? My god if we went back 30yrs!!!!! A great man.

[Rog Ball 01]

Well said Al, he was an inspiration, a leader of men and a hard task master, and he was same when he was Senior Major.

[nasher546]

Al,

That was a great thread, and the way you potrayed JCW very much reminded me of my O.C on that tour, Maj Nobby Clarke (B Coy). I think Company Commanders must have been pretty much in the same mould in those days. I remember myself that Nobby was always in the Turf Lodge and the Ballymurphy when the preverbial was hitting the fan, and you are absoloutly right these guys would bring a touch of coolness and calmness to the gravest of situations. Perhaps it is these people all of us in those days have to thank for getting us all back home relatively unscathed.

Does anybody know the whereabouts of Nobby now?

[jeffdj]

and on top of all that he was a dam good rugby player

[John Turner]

I'm sure I've got the right guy but I get confused these days between PKs - JCWs CWs etc.

JCW was 'SS' - right?

[Gwyn Nicholas]

I'm sure I've got the right guy but I get confused these days between PKs - JCWs CWs etc.

JCW was 'SS' - right?

Yes John I believe he was known to some as "SS". As a newly promoted Sgt, I was posted to Alphas for "Medicine Man" with the QOH. I was aware of his reputation and I was Terrified. In fact I thought I may be the quickest Sgt to ever be busted back to Cpl. I was fortunate however that CSM Barrie Smith and C/Sgt Des Lewis were there to give me invaluable advice. " Do the job you are paid to do, and try to stay one step ahead when planning". Simple advice, but bang-on! He was a hard man to work for, but he worked hard so he expected (rightly so) that everybody else should do no less. He was/is also a Gentleman which I found (personally) to be a rare gift during my service. "SS" yes - a Sound Soldier.

[ap1]

We were aware of that nickname before he arrived. However it just never seemed to resonate with us, and was rarely if ever used. We called him many things(not all polite), but mostly just "JCW" ot "JC".

[Bricoates]

Lt J.C.W. was my pln Commander in the Recce in the 60s, a pln of app. 20 Men, he was known as SS but he was no worse than any other O.C., that time you had to be on the ball in the Recce anyway or you were out, he was firm but fair, I also had a Lt Clarke as O.C. Recce, I wounder if he is the same one mentioned in this thread, He had been a Police Inspector in Rhodisia, now Zimbabwe, He was OC Recce during the time Ian Smith declared UDI, in a conversation at the time I said that it was wrong for the Governor General Smith to declare indipendance in defiance of the wishes of the U.K Government, (Some of them) he reply'd that should the Country be handed over to the "natives" it will fall appart, he did add that it was our fault that it had come to this as had been reapeated in many other British Colonys through lack of education and opportunities, I dont think he or I would have thought it would come to the state it's in now.

[ap1]

I also had a Lt Clarke as O.C. Recce, I wounder if he is the same one mentioned in this thread, He had been a Police Inspector in Rhodisia, now Zimbabwe, He was OC Recce during the time Ian Smith declared UDI.

Its sounds like the same guy Bri. Nobby Clarke and JCW were big rivals, but clearly great friends. Their rivalry was conducted through their respective companies, which of course meant that we all attained high standards. Nobby and JC were very similar in their approach, cut from the same cloth springs to mind :-)

[Rog Ball 01]

I did not have a great deal tgo do with JCW, except on the Bobby Sands tour (Mar to Jul 81), when I was at Tac HQ with Curly Cluer, doing 'Bog Rat'.

I was aware that he gave his IO stick (RMP Officer) but in the end it all paid off .....

[bennyball2]

Its sounds like the same guy Bri. Nobby Clarke and JCW were big rivals, but clearly great friends. Their rivalry was conducted through their respective companies, which of course meant that we all attained high standards. Nobby and JC were very similar in their approach, cut from the same cloth springs to mind :-)


I think at times they took their rivarly a bit to far?????????

[ap1]

Agreed!!!!! I can remember feeling my heart sinking when Bravos's started doing weekly 10 milers in full kit.....It was only a matter of time.............:mad:

[nasher546]

Also agree Al,

Perhaps it's a pity we were not able to "freeze dry" these guys and then pop them into a giant microwave every time we went on operations! Because they were certainly handy O.Cs in that theatre.

[ap1]

Ha Ha...if only Paul!

Guys in Alphas will remember two of JC's most used saying's that used to come over the 432 Intercom to all callsigns on exercise.

1. At The FUP, trundling along towards the enemy positions......."ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK

2. On the Reorg.......Push on, Push on Regardless!!!

[dutchman]

al will remember how serious the guy was , whilst on excersise in canada the umpires decided we had trundled through a minefield and j.c refused to accept the decision and would'nt take it ,i found that hysterical .

[peelow]

al will remember how serious the guy was , whilst on excersise in canada the umpires decided we had trundled through a minefield and j.c refused to accept the decision and would'nt take it ,i found that hysterical .

dutch are you sure ? was it on a NATO exercise in Germany, i was driving callsign 12 then.

[Jenkins7236]

[QUOTE=ap1;31109]Ha Ha...if only Paul!

Guys in Alphas will remember two of JC's most used saying's that used to come over the 432 Intercom to all callsigns on exercise.

1. At The FUP, trundling along towards the enemy positions......."ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK


I remember on one attack...."REMEMBER THE ALAMO"

[dutchman]

peelow you may be right , as they say age don't come alone ....what were we talking about ?

[sid burns]

Ha Ha...if only Paul!

Guys in Alphas will remember two of JC's most used saying's that used to come over the 432 Intercom to all callsigns on exercise.

1. At The FUP, trundling along towards the enemy positions......."ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK

2. On the Reorg.......Push on, Push on Regardless!!!


"Push on"........ I'm desperate for a DSO never mind your lives springs to mind!!

[ap1]

On the 15th December 1981 the Bn were awarded one DSO, one MC, one DCM, one MM, one MBE & six MiD's

:notworthy:


Anyone remember the other recipients of the MID's? Paul Hinge has already bagged Cpl Bri Kennedy with Alphas.

I bag Stanfield(younger)....I think, or is my memory wrong!!!!

[nasher546]

Al,

Kipper Davies & Mac McCarthy both B Coy.

[nasher546]

Does anyone out there know who the other 3 MIDs were awarded to?

[benney]

Didn"t des lewis get mid for that tour, i was part of the rover crew with jcw on that tour, i seem to remember jcw saying at the end of that tour he went with i think 101 men and 101 men came back, or words to that efect job done!

[nasher546]

Benny,

Do'nt think Des Lewis was one of the last 2 to get one. Rich W, if you're out there can you shine any light on this?

[CARL PUGH]

Paul did a Fus Jones get the MID for Shooting a gunman from the Divis Tower, or in that general area. If i recall it was a hell of a shot with an SLR, some 200-300 yards on an opposite balcony. I think he was the older brother of a Fus Clive Jones of A Coy.

[ap1]

Anyone remember the other recipients of the MID's? Paul Hinge has already bagged Cpl Bri Kennedy with Alphas.

I bag Stanfield(younger)....I think, or is my memory wrong!!!!

Delete Stanfield, he got a GOC's commendation, although in Regi Records he is listed as "Scourfield"

[jeffdj]

al l/cpl roberts15 i think med centre bri kennedy Capt Murdock, Tonto 65 and Lt J P A Davies

[ceedoubleu]

Delete Stanfield, he got a GOC's commendation, although in Regi Records he is listed as "Scourfield"

Yes, Stanfield, GOC's commendation. 9 Platoon, C Coy.

[bennyball2]

Paul did a Fus Jones get the MID for Shooting a gunman from the Divis Tower, or in that general area. If i recall it was a hell of a shot with an SLR, some 200-300 yards on an opposite balcony. I think he was the older brother of a Fus Clive Jones of A Coy.

Hi Carl wasent it a Fus Williams, his brother used to be B company Clerk in Ternhill????

[richjones16]

Taken from Y DDraig Goch March 1982..
The Northern Ireland awards list published on 14th December 1981
DSO Lt Col P.H.Reece
MBE Maj D.J.Ross
MC Maj J.C.Williams
DCM C/Sgt E.D.Williams 54
MM L/Cpl M.J.Adams

Mentioned in Dispatches
Capt A.G.B.Murdoch
Lt A.J.P.Davies
C/Sgt W.B.Davies65
Cpl B.C.Kennedy
Cpl D.R.McCarthy
L/Cpl D.E.Roberts15

GOC Commenendations
Wo 2 L.Bellamy
Wo 2 D.J.Lewis15
Sgt R.J.Beck
Sgt P.Owen37
Cpl R.Blewitt
L/cpl G.Williams59
Fus M.Davies40
Fus Scourfield
Fus S.P.Williams91

It also states...The number and Stature of the awards to a single Battalion during a four-month tour is unprecedented..

[CARL PUGH]

Benny quite right and i stand corrected, it was Williams 91. His brother was Clive Williams a blonde haired chap.

[Jinx 56]

Cyprus 1966, Zeross Bridge outpost.

Lt Conliffe ( Canadian exchange officer ) sent myself the driver and Cpl Geoff Copp to fetch a Williams from Katima camp, fresh from the uk. When we got there found this tall chap with all his kit looking hot and sorry for himself, Geoff Copp said get in the back Williams, and off we set back to the outpost. A short time later after he was introduced to the PL Comd, and he came out wearing a pip on each shoulder; SIR 2Lt JCW. I'm sure " SS " came after training the Rugby team back in the cold in Germany.What you have all said about him is true, Proud to have served with him.
56