major j.c.w.williams

**Rog Ball 01** · 05-12-2008, 19:55

Originally Posted by 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

Slioghtly wrong Benney, JCW make full colonel.

Rog

**keithwill38** · 05-12-2008, 23:20

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** · 06-12-2008, 08:57

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

**nasher546** · 06-12-2008, 11:07

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** · 06-12-2008, 12:08

Should have been CO 1st Battalion!

**Rog Ball 01** · 06-12-2008, 12:16

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** · 06-12-2008, 12:26

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

**nasher546** · 06-12-2008, 15:43

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** · 07-12-2008, 09:45

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.