2723959 WOI William John ALLISTER, MBE, 3 Irish Guards

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Oct 19, 2016.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD


    PERSONAL INFORMATION

    Name: ALLISTER, William John
    DOB: 11th April 1924
    Place of Birth: Belfast, Northern Ireland
    Residence:
    Parents:
    Wife: Catherine Allister nee Cahill; married 1948, 4th Quarter, St Peter's Church, Stalybridge, Cheshire.
    Died: 29th October 2002, aged 79
    Photo:
    Screen Shot 2016-10-20 at 00.44.49.png
    Picture2035.png


    SERVICE
    Army/Personal Number: 2723959
    Service Number: 23495061
    Rank: Lance-Corporal
    Regiment/Battalion: Irish Guards, 3rd Battalion
    Enlisted: 13th May 1943
    Discharged:
    Promotions: R.S.M.


    Army Casualty List (WO 417/82)
    2723959 Lance-Corporal ALLISTER, William J 1944 Irish Guards; Wounded
    09/09/1944



    MEDALS
    Gallantry Honour: Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
    Theatre of Combat or Operation: New Year Honours
    London Gazette: 1st January 1973 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45860/supplement/6/data.pdf
    TNA Link: Recommendation for Award for Allister, William John Rank: Warrant Officer Class... | The National Archives
    Citation:
    "Warrant Officer Class II William John ALLISTER, Irish Guards,
    Northern Ireland, 1967 to date
    Regimental Recruiter

    Company Sergeant Major ALLISTER has been the Irish Guards Special Recruiting representative in Belfast since 1967. He took over at a time when the Regiment's intake was waning. By working far beyond the normal bounds of duty he has greatly improved the Regiment's Irish intake. He has also been the senior Non-Commissioned rank at the Belfast recruiting office and played a great part in maintaining Army recruiting in Ulster during a very difficult period.

    As a recruiter Company Sergeant Major ALLISTER's times of work are long and know no bounds of "office hours", but despite this he finds time to assist in an assortment of Regimental family problems and in the evening training of the Irish Guards Cadet Platoons in Belfast. He is always ready to put himself out to help young soldiers. Indeed his wise counsel based on experience as an Irish Guardsman, which stretches back to active service in 1943, has helped many Irish soldiers both young and old in these days of conflict in Ireland.

    His links with and assistance to the Royal British Legion, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, schools and public bodies of all denominations in Belfast are a great asset to the community and set an example of Army service to the province.

    Disorder in Northern Ireland has made Company Sergeant Major ALLISTER's job both difficult and dangerous. This has not perturbed him and he has continued to keep his contacts with and visit all parts of Belfast regardless of their political or religious climate. For soldiers have been so long in Belfast during the emergency under such exposed conditions.

    His devotion to duty and his excellent results are an example for younger recruiters to emulate. An award now would give recognition of the fact that never has successful recruiting in the United Kingdom been carried on in such troublesome circumstances as in Belfast at the present time.

    Major BLEWITT, Regimental Adjutant (DAAG) Irish Guards, 9 June 1972."

    Recommendation:
    ALLISTER W J, MBE 1.png ALLISTER W J, MBE 2.png
    Screenshot2010-05-30at231522-1.png

    Campaign Medals:
    Service Medals: Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
    Medal Roll Details:


    REFERENCES
    War Diaries:
    War Diary: 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1944
    War Diary: 3rd Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Jan - Dec 1945

    Archive Files: WO 417
    Publications:
    IG Journal: 1949: Irish Guards Association, North of England, Manchester Sub-Branch Membership

    IG Journal, 2003/04:
    "WOI William John Allister, M.B.E. By Major TJ Corcoran:
    Bill was born in Belfast on the 11th April 1924, he died on 29th October 2002, following a brief illness. He enlisted into the Irish Guards on the 13th May 1943 at Belfast. On completing his basic training he found himself on active service with the Regiment in Normandy where he was wounded. After being stabilised, at a Forward Dressing Station, he was evacuated to England. Having recovered he was promoted war substantive Sergeant on 27th December 1946 as he was considered an outstanding Non Commissioned Officer.

    Whilst convalescing he met his wife Catherine, a member of the ATS, working at Aborfield Hospital. They were married two years later in St Peter's Church, Stalybridge, Cheshire. Bill transferred as a substantive Sergeant to the Royal Air Force in June 1951 and served in MELF, Egypt and Cyprus before rejoining the 1st Battalion at Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe in October 1957. It was at this time that I first met Bill, I was in the Machine Gun Platoon he joined the Anti-Tank Platoon. Needless to say he had the usual round of duties imposed on him, Sergeant in Waiting, Picquet Sergeant, Sergeant of the Guard and not forgetting Canteen, all one after the other just to check that he hadn't lost touch. It was as if he had never been away. They were fun days, you could always rely on Bill to help out whatever the circumstances. He always appeared unfazed when presented with difficult problems. He would weigh up the pros and cons consider the cause and effect and advance his thoughts on the matter. I looked upon him as an older brother in the Company.

    I well remember when the Battalion was posted to Cyprus in mid 1958, we ended up in the dust bowl in Nicosia, rumours were running riot at the time, we were working on the mushroom syndrome with lots of people asking questions about our deployment. I thought: I'll raise Bill's temperature, he had not been here long so I sent all those who came to me for answers to Bill, it wasn't long before he had a queue a mile long outside his bivouac, needless to say I incurred his good humoured wrath. He would say: “For God sake don't send anymore people down to my tent, I've half the bloody battalion here.” Said as always with his mischievous smile.

    Bill went on to look after the Army apprentices at Aborfield, to run the Battalion Mechanical Transport section and to eventualy take over the Army Recruiting WOI post in Belfast from the legendary John Kenny in 1967. As a result of his recruiting work The Queen invested him as a Member of the British Empire. He also received, a little late, his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal but that's another story. He remained in Ulster recruiting until his retirement in 1977 after 30 years of service. He maintained his connection with the Service working for the Regular Forces Employment Association, at the War Memorial Buildings, Belfast. He eventually retired to the lovely area of Newcastle, Co Down where he was known as a keen fisherman who made excellent flies.

    Bill was gifted with writing verse and I would fail in my duty should I not add one which sums him up. He was a perfect gentleman, an outstanding Irish Guardsman and a loyal friend. This extract from Tennyson's, The Bar. Bill could spin a good bar as all Micks do. Twilight, and the evening bell. And after that the dark, May there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark.

    To his wife Catherine, sons David, Dermot and daughter Mary we send our deepest sympathy at their great loss."

    Accounts:
    Newspaper:
    Websites:
    Irish Guards: Gallantry Awards & Honours - WWII Open Resource Group
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2019
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Corporal T. MAHER's Squad, Irish Guards, September 1943

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  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    This photo is from my Dad's album, from left: Jimmy Doggart, Dad & Bill Allister.
    [​IMG]

    This photo was shared with me by an ex-Mick who had known Bill Allister during his post-war service. From left: Dad, Bill, Jimmy.
    [​IMG]

    Both images were probably taken around the time that they were Corporal instructors at Lingfield, so prior to the battalion's embarkation to Normandy in June 1944.


    All three men were from Belfast and served during the war in No. 1 Company, 3rd Battalion Irish Guards. Dad and Jimmy Doggart had been in the Home Guard together. They joined up at the same time and trained together initially in Northern Ireland owing to a 'flu epidemic and then at the Guards Depot Caterham. Bill had joined up some months earlier earlier and his squad passed out in September 1943.

    Both Bill and Jimmy stayed in the Irish Guards after the war: Bill being promoted eventually to R.S.M. and Jimmy to C.Q.M.S.

    Jimmy died on 3rd November 1984 in England, Bill died on 29th October 2002 in NI.
     
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Bill gave this to my father, poor image I'm afraid, but it's called The Mick.
    Untitled-Scanned-36-2.jpg
     
    Last edited: Oct 12, 2017

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