Orders, Decorations and Medals

A scarce Great War O.B.E. and Kachin Hills group of ten awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Michael Williamson, 8th Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers which he raised and commanded until the battalion was virtually wiped out in France, late of the Indian Army

The Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) 1st type; India General Service 1854-95, 2 clasps, Burma 1887-89, Kachin Hills 1892-93 (2d Lieutt., 2d Bn. R.W. Surr.R.); India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Punjab Frontier 1897-98 (Lt., 21st Pjb. Infy.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1902-04 (Capt., Punjab M.I.); 1914-15 Star (Lt.Col., R. Muns. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col.); Jubilee 1887, silver; Coronation 1902, silver; Delhi Durbar 1911, generally good very fine (10) £700-900

O.B.E. London Gazette 8 January 1919 (Civil Division), and London Gazette 2 January 1920 (transferred to the Military Division).

Michael Williamson was born in 1865 in Bruff, County Limerick, and entered the Army as Second Lieutenant in the Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1887. He served in Burma 1887-8 (medal and clasp) and in 1891-2 when he commanded the Laka Column; was transferred to the Indian Army and served during the operations in the Kachin Hills 1892-3, when he was Assistant Commandant of the Bhamo Battalion, Burma Military Police (clasp); during the operations on the Punjab Frontier 1897-98, he was present in the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass (medal and clasp); served with the 21st Punjabis in the operations in Somaliland 1902-04 (medal and clasp); Lt.-Colonel retired 15 May 1913. Williamson was recalled for service during the Great War; raised and commanded the 8th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, until the battalion was virtually wiped out in France; subsequently commanded the 5th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, and was awarded the O.B.E. for his work as area recruiting organiser in Ireland. He was later Justice of the Peace and Resident Magistrate for Limerick, and died in 1926.