John Williams

Who was John Williams?

Lieutenant-Colonel John Williams MBE DCM was a British army officer.

John Williams, known as Patch after losing an eye at during the battle of Plaman Mapu during the Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation, joined the Army as a bandsman in 1949. He transferred to the infantry in 1954. He served with the The Parachute Regiment in the Suez Canal Zone, Cyprus and Borneo.

On 27 April 1965 CSM Williams's Company base at Plaman Mapu came under heavy attack by the Indonesian infantry. He was awarded the DCM for gallantry during the Battle where he served as a Company Sergeant Major with the 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. An extract from his citation for the DCM reads: "The successful defence of the position against great odds was largely due to his courage, his example and leadership and to his own direct intervention in the battle at every crisis and at every point of maximum danger."

He underwent many operations as a result of injuries sustained during the battle. He later became Regimental Sergeant Major of the 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment. He was commissioned in 1971. He was awarded the MBE and appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Staff Quartermaster of the Army Staff College, Camberley in 1983. He retired from the Army in 1989.