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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 394

A poignant and early Second World War D.F.M. awarded to Pilot Officer C. G. L. Williams, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was decorated for his part in a protracted dogfight between his Anson of No. 217 Squadron and a Heinkel 115 seaplane in October 1940

Subsequently commissioned, he was assigned to a suicidal daylight sortie against the Admiral Hipper at Brest, from which his Beaufort failed to return

Distinguished Flying Medal, G.VI.R. (580129 Sgt. C. G. L. Williams, R.A.F.), extremely fine

D.F.M. London Gazette 24 December 1940, the original recommendation states:

'On 16 October 1940, when navigator [and Captain of Aircraft] of Anson K.8745, an enemy U-boat and Heinkel 115 were attacked in a position 100 miles S.W. of the Scillies. The attack against the Heinkel was pressed home and the action continued until the Heinkel made its get away due to its superior performance.

This action was typical of this N.C.O. who has completed 600 hours of operational flying during the first year of the war which has included night raids on Brest and attacks against barges and shipping. The devotion to duty shown by this N.C.O. has been of the highest order.

Appointment held: Airman Pilot, No. 217 Squadron.

Recognition recommended: Distinguished Flying Medal.'

Cilmyn George Lane Williams was born in Caernarvonshire in December 1911 and was likely a pre-war Halton aircraft apprentice. More certain is the fact he was serving as a member of No. 217 Squadron on the outbreak of war, a Coastal Command unit based at St. Eval, Cornwall.

Of events off the Scillies on 16 October 1940, the unit's Operations Record Book (O.R.B.) states:

'While on patrol, attacked enemy U-boat with bombs. No results observed. He. 115 sighted in immediate vicinity of U-boat. He. 115 attacked and several bursts were seen to enter E./A. which took evasive action. A running battle with E./A. lasted for 40 minutes and Anson had to abandon the fight due to shortage of ammunition.'

Commissioned as a Pilot Officer in January 1941, Williams was still serving in 217 Squadron at the time of his death in action on 15 February 1941. On that date, he took off from St. Eval in Beaufort L9794 MW-R, one of three aircraft assigned to a suicidal daylight mission to attack the Hipper at Brest. As summarised by the unit's O.R.B.:

'In the opinion of those best qualified to judge on the station, this was not a justifiable war risk. The damage which three machines armed with 500lb. bombs at the largest could inflict on the Hipper did not justify the very serious risk to the three machines. The small chance of making more than one direct hit at the most increased rather than decreased the inadvisability of the sortie.'

All three Beauforts were shot down 20 miles north of Brest by Luftwaffe fighters from 5/JG. 77. Williams' aircraft crashed into the sea.

Aged just 30 years old at the time of his death, Williams left a widow, Violet, and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. He is also commemorated on a plaque at St. Beuno Church at Clynnog Fawr and on a roll of honour at the Memorial Hall at Criccieth, both in Gwynedd, Wales.

Sold with an original telegram from the C.O. of No. 15 Group, congratulating the recipient on his award of the D.F.M., dated 18 December 1940, an original Central Chancery letter addressed to the recipient's widow, dated 27 February 1942, in which she is invited to attend a Buckingham Palace investiture on 17 March 1942 to receive his D.F.M., and several wartime photographs.

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Estimate
£1,000 to £1,400

Starting price
£800