Description
The fascinating, unusual and unique medal group to the Second in Command of the Middle East Army Information Team, Staff Sergeant Geoffrey Williamson of the York and Lancaster Regiment.
The recommendation for the British Empire Medal (WO 373/171) was initiated by Military Attache, Col. A.C.W. Noel, British Defence Liaison Staff, Pretoria on the 14th May 1965. Williamson’s Unit is the Army Information Team, HQ Middle East Command, parent Regt. York and Lancs. Recommended by Lt Gen Charles Harrington C-in-C MEC at Aden and Highly Recommended by Major General J.E.F. Willoughby G.O.C. MELF 2nd August 1965. Full citation is transcribed further below.
The team had been based in Aden covering a region spreading 4000 miles from Bahrain to Basutoland and the purpose was what is now known as a “hearts and minds” mission to reassure the peoples of the presence of British troops in their regions and to spread information about impending elections.
The Army Information Team of 5 sent to on the Africa mission as reported in Soldier Magazine comprised:
Captain David Longbottom, The Lancashire Regiment who was awarded the M.B.E. (Mili) in the same honours list. Sergeant Geoffrey Williamson, York and Lancs. Corporal Alan Hendon, R.A.S.C. Corporal Don MacGilp, Royal Signals. Craftsman Mark Weir, R.E.M.E.
The role of the team is the subject of a fascinating article published in Soldier Magazine, issue May 1965, entitled TWISTING IN THE KALAHARI. Williamson’s role in this unit is specifically covered in a paragraph beginning “To reach the mountain villages by road, the Team’s second-in-command, Sergeant Geoff Williamson, The York and Lancaster Regiment, was propped on a horse for the first time in his life and pointed in the direction of the mountains.
For weeks he rode along winding paths except for a native interpreter, often spending eight hours grimly clinging to the saddle and trying to ignore the sheer mountainside yawning below him.” He goes on to describe the process he would follow to address the natives. Williamson also features in one of the images in the article where he is giving water to a little Swazi boy. 
23230536 Staff Sergeant Geoffrey Williamson of the York and Lancaster Regiment born 28th April 1939 at Bulmer, Yorkshire, died 19th August 1966 whilst serving at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall, Yorkshire and he is buried at Fulford Cemetery, York.
Medals (3) – British Empire Medal (Mili) named to 2320536 SGT. GEOFFREY WILLIAMSON. Y & L. General Service Medal (EIIR) with Arabian Peninsula clasp named to 2320536 SGT. G. WILLIAMSON. Y & L. and Campaign Service Medal (EIIR) with Radfan and South Arabia clasps to 2320536 SGT. G. WILLIAMSON. Y & L.
In addition to the medals listed above this super and personal lot comprises- Posthumously sent box of issue for the 2 clasp GSM with named Defence Council compliment condolence slip.. Letter addressed to Williamson at Seedasser Lines, Aden, from the HQ Middle East Command dated 1965 congratulating him for his B.E.M. award signed by Maj-Gen J E F Willoughby. British Empire Medal box of issue, Cap and Collar badge pair, 11 large format press photographs (some used in the magazine article), The May 1965 issue of Soldier Magazine in which Williamson feature in a very informative article. Letter from Mrs B Williamson, 159 Woodhouse Street, Leeds, Yorkshire to Williamson at Fort Morbut, BFPO 69 (Aden). A newspaper clipping from the Barnsley Chronicle, January 1966, announcing the BEM award in the New Years Honours list.
CITATION (WO 373/171) – Recommended for New Year 1966
Place – Swaziland, Basutoland, Bechuanaland for period November 1964 to May 1965. Employed as Second in Command Army Information Team:
23230536 Sgt Geoffrey Williamson, Yorks and Lancs.
Sergeant Williamson served as second in command of the Army Information Team in the territories of Swaziland, Basutoland and Bechuanaland Protectorate, the tasks of which were to assist in publicising the elections in all their aspects and in educating the public in the procedure to be followed.
The problem is Swaziland was comparatively simple because the country is small and all the main centres are easily accessible, but after this pipe-opener the team proceeded to the other two. Both represented tremendous physical problems, Basutoland because of its roadless mountains going up to 11,000 feet, large areas of which are only accessible by pony; Bechuanaland because of the vast distances over the Kalahari.
In Basutoland he shared the task of visiting the mountain villages with his commander and although he had never ridden before, he rode off into the mountains with only a Basuto interpreter, carrying his equipment on a pack mule, living out and visited a large number of villages. This entailed long hours and considerably physical hardship; it also required no little courage because although in the event he was well received he could have met considerably hostility.
In Bechuanaland the whole party covered 6000 miles by Land Rover, crossing and recrossing the desert to visit all the main centres of population.
In addition to this, he ably supported his commander whenever they were back at base, working long hours with the territory information officers and carrying out any task that was given him with enthusiasm and without consideration for himself. Throughout these operations he always gave of his best and was always prepared to go far beyond the normal requirements of the Service.
The very success with which these elections were carried out, the very high polls and very small proportion of spoiled voting papers, are testimony of the success of his devoted and unstinted efforts.
It is highly poignant that Sgt Williamson died at such a young age on 19th August 1966 and so soon after his return from his work in Africa.
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