26/08/2026
A excellent Defence of Arras Military Cross 4th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, attached 1/4th London Regiment.
Military Cross, (Privately named) Captain H.N. Williams. 4th R.W.F. 29-3-1918; British War and Victory Medals (M.I.D. Oakleaf to Victory), Capt H.N. Williams; Matching set of miniatures (Both full size and miniatures swing mounted as worn) 56 Division enamel lapel badge; Music award medallion; 1949 R.A.F. shooting medallion; Single officers pip.; Medal issue box Capt H.N. Williams ; Some original photos taken from an album and several postcards.
Harold Newall Williams was born on the 22nd November 1887 Blackfield Road, Salford, Manchester The son of John William and Elizabeth Ann Williams
Served at home 15th November 1915 to 4th August 1916 as Pte 7518 Pte H.N. Williams .
Following which he was commissioned into the Territorial Forces., and requested service in the 3/4 Royal Welsh Fusiliers. London Gazette 14th August 1916, (Cadet Harold Newall Williams, from the Inns of Court O.T.C. to be 2nd Lieut (on Prob) 5th Aug 1916)
Mentioned in Despatches , London Gazette 22nd May 1917, and Douglas Haig's despatch on 8th November 1918.
London Regiment, Act Capt H.N. Williams (2nd Lt R.W. Fus) to be act Capt whilst coming a co. 17th Aug 1917, London Gazette 20th November 1917.
Military Cross, London Gazette 22nd June 1918.
"Lt.(A./Capt.) Harold Newall Williams, Welsh Fus.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He held an important position against an enemy attack and defended it with great determination for over four hours. Owing to his excellent fre control the enemy's advance was completely checked antil am******on began to fail. Later, when the enemy three times broke into the line, on each occasion owing to his. Prompt and determined action they were driven out with heavy loss."
A regiment History of the 1/4th London Regiment records the following
Defence of Arras.
Captain H.N. Williams was amongst 19 other men to receive gallantry awards, Williams being awarded the Military Cross.
The forward posts having fallen, the Marquis line became almost immediately engaged, and Capt H.N. Williams (A Company) displayed great qualities of leadership in his defence of the position.
On the freezing morning of March 28, 1918, the 1/4th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), holding positions within the 56th (1st London) Division, stood directly in the path of General Otto von Below’s massive German assault, Operation Mars. Designed to smash the British flank and capture Arras, the enemy offensive fell squarely upon the fortified positions of the Marquis Line near Neuville-Vitasse.
At 03:30, the battle opened with an appalling five-hour artillery bombardment. High-explosive shells, smoke, and deadly phosgene gas rained down upon the Marquis trench system, pulverizing wire entanglements, leveling parapets, and severing vital battalion communications. Despite the devastation, officers and NCOs kept their men disciplined, ensuring machine-gun teams remained ready in deep dugouts as the bombardment crept rearward.
At 07:30, German infantry emerged through the dense mist, spearheaded by elite stormtrooper units wielding flamethrowers, light machine guns, and clusters of stick grenades. As the enemy surged across no man's land, the 1/4th Londons mounted their shattered parapets. Lewis gunners opened rapid fire into the advancing ranks, laying down lethal interlocking fields of fire that decimated the initial enemy waves.
Where German forces managed to breach the Marquis switch lines, brutal close-quarters combat erupted inside the narrow chalk trenches. Londoners fought stubbornly with bayonets, trench clubs, and Mills bombs, contesting every traverse. When isolated outposts were surrounded, company commanders organized immediate, localized counter-thrusts. Machine-gun crews boldly exposed themselves on ruined parapets to bring down devastating enfilade fire on massed enemy infantry attempting to cross the open terrain.
Throughout the grueling afternoon, the 1/4th Londons refused to concede the Marquis Line. Though heavily outnumbered and suffering severe casualties, their disciplined defensive fire repeatedly broke up fresh German attacks, preventing the enemy from penetrating toward the vital heights of Telegraph Hill and Arras itself.
By evening, the German momentum had completely stalled, having failed to achieve a breakthrough along the Marquis defense network. The severe losses inflicted by the 1/4th Londons and their sister units forced the German High Command to abandon Operation Mars the following day. The battalion’s heroic stand along the Marquis Line provided a masterclass in trench defense, saving Arras and keeping the Allied line intact during one of the most perilous moments of the First World War.
Battles of Bapaume, Cambrai and the Sabre in 1918.
It was a hard day's work for everyone. The 1/4th Londons had bombed their way down about 2000 yards of the Hindenburg line, excellent leadership to the bombing parties being provided by Lieut Older and captains H.N. Williams and Price.
On the 4th September 1918, Companies were commanded as follows. A. By Capt H Williams M.C. along with three other Captains.
On the 21st October a Guard of Honour was provided , consisting of 100 all ranks under Capt H.N. Williams M.C. for President Poincare, who was visiting Arras - "The finest Guard the Division ever turned out"
On the 15th November a party of the Battalion under Capt H.N. Williams took part in the triumphal march through Mons, where the troops were received with a tumultuous welcome.
He was living in Edgebaston, Birmingham when was discharged in April 1919.
1/4th London Regiment actions whilst Williams was serving with them:-
From 17th August 1917 through the 11th November 1918 Armistice, the 1/4th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), serving within the 56th (1st London) Division, fought across the Western Front in the war's final major campaigns.
Battle of Langemarck (17–18 August 1917): Immediately following the main assault opening Third Ypres, the 1/4th Londons pressed through liquid mud and heavy shellfire around Glencorse Wood and Nonne Bosschen. Attacking concrete pillbox defenses under relentless machine-gun fire, the battalion suffered heavy casualties.
Battle of Cambrai (20 November – 3 December 1917): Positioned along the Hindenburg Line near Bourlon and Tadpole Copse, the battalion staged secondary holding attacks to pin German reserves. When the German counter-offensive hit, they engaged in three days of fierce trench fighting to prevent a hostile breakthrough.
First Battle of Arras / Defence of the Marquis Line (28 March 1918): As the prime target of German Operation Mars, the battalion anchored the Marquis Line at Neuville-Vitasse. Withstanding a five-hour gas and high-explosive bombardment, their Lewis gunners decisively repulsed advancing stormtroopers, halting the enemy offensive on Arras.
Second Battle of Bapaume / Battle of Albert (21–23 August 1918): Spearheading the 56th Division's entry into the Hundred Days Offensive, the 1/4th Londons assaulted and successfully captured the fortified village of Boyelles on 23 August, securing key machine-gun emplacements.
Battle of the Scarpe (26–31 August 1918): Pushing east against stubborn enemy rearguards, the battalion saw severe action around Écoust-Saint-Mein before leading trench-clearing operations that liberated Bullecourt village on 31 August.
Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September – 1 October 1918): Breaching Germany’s major defensive trench systems, the 1/4th Londons forced critical crossings of the Canal du Nord, driving retreating enemy units back to Aubencheul-au-Bac.
Battle of the Sambre & Passage of the Grand Honnelle (4–7 November 1918): In the final Allied advance across the Franco-Belgian border, the battalion forced bridgeheads over the Aunelle and Grand Honnelle rivers under direct artillery barrage and machine-gun fire.
Condition - NEF and nicely toned.
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