A Collection of Awards to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

A scarce ‘Operation Barras’ group of six awarded to Sergeant G. P. Williams, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached 657 Squadron, Army Air Corps, Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24670783 Cpl G P Williams REME); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Sierra Leone, with rosette (24670783 Sgt G P Williams REME); Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (24670783 Sgt G P Williams REME); Jubilee 2002; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, E.II.R., with Additional Award Bar (24670783 Sgt G P Williams REME); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24670783 Sgt G P Williams REME) mounted as originally worn, with named card box of issue for Iraq Medal, good very fine (6) £1,800-£2,200 --- Geoffrey Phillip Williams was ‘a SNCO Aircraft Technician in the REME until 31st July 2007 and at the time of the Iraq war I was serving with 657 Sqn AAC, a part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, and was deployed to the Gulf as part of Task Force 7. Other units in which I have served are: 1 Flt AAC, 3 Regt AAC, 5 Regt AAC, 71 AC Wksp REME and 7 AABn REME.’ (typed biography included with lot refers). Williams was serving as REME with 657 Squadron Army Air Corps as part of the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing for Operation Barras. His entitlement to the Operational Service Medal for Sierra Leone, with rosette, stemmed from his part in Operation Barras, a British initiative to try and free 11 men of the Royal Irish Regiment who had been seized on 25 August 2000 by the rebel group known as the “West Side Boys”. A few days later five of the hostages were released, but on 10 September a major assault was mounted to free the remainder, our forces comprising 150 men of The Parachute Regiment and elements of the Special Forces. In the ensuing 10-hour engagement, one S.A.S. Trooper was killed and 11 other soldiers wounded, but the Royal Irish Regiment captives were safely released. The rebel leader, Foday Kallay, was captured, along with many of his followers, and 25 members of the “West Side Boys” killed. Only those members of the Parachute Regiment or the Special Forces that took part in Operation Barras qualified for the silver rosette on the Sierra Leone Operational Service Medal. Sold with short typed biography of service written by recipient, dated 2 April 2008; with copy of roll confirming participation in Operation Barras listing 10 members of REME that qualified for the award.