For Royal Engineer Sergeant Derik Williams, it was his great grandfather’s bravery in the face of adversity during the Second World War, that inspired him to serve in the British Army.
As the nation commemorates the 78th anniversary of VJ Day, marking both the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War, Derik reflects on his ancestor’s campaign. He said: “My great grandfather survived. He left a legacy, and that’s why I joined the Army.”
Gunner Phillip John Williams enlisted in to 137th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (Territorial Army), took part in the Battle of Slim River during the Malayan campaign and was captured shortly before the fall of Singapore in February 1942.
He was one of more than 60,000 Allied prisoners of war who constructed the notorious 415-kilometre rail link between Thailand and Burma. The Japanese project which also included over 250,000 South East Asian labourers became known as the ‘Death Railway’ due to the horrific conditions they were subjected too. Around 100,000 are thought to have died, it is said one worker for each of the wooden sleepers laid on the track.
Derik (38), who serves with the 36 Royal Engineer Regiment and The Queens Gurkha Engineers, based in Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone, said of his Great Grandfather: “He was forced to build bridge number 277 at Kanchanaburi, the infamous structure depicted in the 1957 Academy Award winning war film, ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’.
“Life in the internment camps was hell. Food was in short supply, under 600 calories a day for their hard manual labour, they were malnourished, maltreated and without basic hygiene and medical care, many succumbed to exhaustion, dysentery, malaria and cholera.”
Dez, as he is known to his friends and family, joined as a military driver, and has fought his own personal battle after an incident left him partially sighted, he said: “I’ve had to be resilient and overcome the odds to remain focused and show that I have a lot to offer and prove that even with a hidden disability, I can exceed expectations and challenge any situation.”
Tough times do not last, tough people do. I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become. Sergeant Derik Williams
The senior non-commissioned soldier who is a specialist vehicles Fleet Manager, always wanted to be an engineer and drive the ‘biggest vehicles’: “I had a difficult upbringing, and my schooling was disruptive due to being in foster care from the age of eight. I needed continuity in my life which the Army gave me.
“My aspiration is to inspire those who are from similar backgrounds and illustrate that there are good opportunities and pathways the British Army offer, and that anything is possible no matter what.
“In my spare time, I also volunteer for a young persons’ charity in a youth support role and as an independent visitor.”
Dez enlisted in 2002 and has had a long, varied and busy career, deploying to Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan, with further travel to America, Jordan, Kenya, and numerous European countries.
His main highlights in those two decades include gaining his freefall licence to sky dive anywhere in the world, and operating specialist riverine craft - army speed boats - which earned him the nickname ‘Ginger James Bond.’
Before joining the army, he had various part time jobs from working with birds of prey at a wildlife park to packing mail and floristry.
“My time in the military has showed me the importance of teamwork,” he said. “I have learnt many skills whilst serving, however, for me the biggest skill is physical and mental resilience. I believe this skill is required in all aspects of army life as things can change rapidly.”
The soldier from Plymouth, who also had ancestors that served in the Guards and Royal Marines, continued: “My great grandfather physically survived the horrors of the POW camps, he was one of only 88 from his regiment. I can’t imagine what he lived through and how it affected the rest of his live.
“For anyone who is suffering or has suffered with mental health problems whilst serving, don’t be afraid to speak out about it and turn it into a strength.
As a keen cyclist, Dez would love to compete in the Para Olympics and Invictus Games and says, “Tough times do not last, tough people do. I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.”
The British Army is recruiting right now to fill 10,000 jobs across the UK with more than 200 roles to choose from, covering everything from frontline combat and cyber security to helicopter pilots, chefs and support roles. If you’re aged 16 to 50 and if you want to find out more about a career in the Army, click here.