O.J. Williams & LL Litchfield, Australian Army Middle East

Description

Oliver Jack Williams – Defence Medal Trio & 1st Star (Female Relative Badge)
Lawrence Lyall Litchfield – 2nd Star (Female Relative Badge)

Oliver Jack Williams was born on the 13th of May 1913 in Coraki, New South Wales. He worked as a farm labourer prior to enlistment. Williams enlisted on the 10th of July 1940. He was initially posted to various infantry training battalions before being taken in strength with the 1st Reserve Motor Transport Company on the 6th of February 1941. Prior to embarkation Williams was appointed as ‘Special Group III.’ Whilst on duty, on the 15th of March Williams married Vera Williams (née Litchfield). He embarked Sydney on the 7th of April, later disembarking in the Middle East on the 3rd of May.

Williams struggled with various health issues throughout his service abroad, including pneumonia. Williams was classed as ‘permanently unfit for service’ by the medical board on the 28th of August. Williams embarked the Middle East aboard a hospital ship on the 21st of November and disembarked Sydney on the 12th of December. Williams again struggled with various illnesses upon his return, eventually being discharged ‘medically unfit for service’ on the 3rd of April 1942.His medal entitlement is confirmed as being the – Defence Medal, 39-45 War Medal & Australian Service Medal 39-45. Williams brother in-law, Lawrence Lyall Litchfield served the 2/11th Field Regiment in the Syria-Lebanon Campaign as a gun layer. Litchfield later served in the Northern Territory and rose to the rank of lieutenant.

This group is accompanied by scanned copies of the service records for OJ Williams and LL Litchfield.