Date of birth:

January 5th, 1918

Service number:

C/JX. 218901

Nationality:

British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Bernard Arthur Williams was born to Gladys Atkins on 5th January 1918 and was adopted by George Williams when he married Gladys. They lived in Hanworth Middlesex and he had a sister Harriet Amy and a younger brother Stanley. After leaving school he worked in a local grocery store. He joined the navy in 1941 and married Nora Olga Richardson at All Saints Church Hampton Middlesex on 15th November 1941. His daughter Bernice was born 16th November 1942 and another daughter Sandra on 11th August 1949.

He served on the Achates and wasmentioned in despatches (London Gazette 8th December 1942) for shooting down enemy aircraft while serving on HMS Achates. Achates was protecting a merchant convoy to Russia - making a smoke screen -but was sunk after being hit by a German cruiser. He was one of few survivors picked up by Northern Gem (a cement hulled trawler?)

After the war, he had various jobs - an electricity meter reader and a bus conductor operating from Hounslow Bus Depot - until returning to the grocery trade. He worked at Goodworths and rose to manager of a store in Whitton Middlesex. Goodworths was bought out by Victor Value who were bought out by Tesco. He managed one of their first supermarkets in Richmond and then Wandsworth. He rose to Management and trained the new breed of Supermarket Managers in the trade of 'Grocery'. He died in his late fifties from a heart attack. He left his widow, two daughters and three grandchildren.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Able Seaman

Awarded on:

December 8th, 1942

Citation (general):
"For bravery and resolution in H.M. Ships and Merchantmen, while taking a Convoy to
North Russia in the face of relentless attacks by enemy aircraft and submarines."

• - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35815/supplement/5346/data.pdf