Royal Navy commodore, 69, who served in Falklands War and won CBE for leading disaster relief responses in Sierra Leone and Kosovo is killed in car crash with lorry

  • Commodore Malcolm Williams, 69, died in the crash on the A3 road on April 20
  • Commodore Williams was a veteran who had served on Falklands War frontline
  • He earned a CBE for work in Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Mozambique and Honduras

Commodore Malcolm Williams was a veteran mariner who served in the Falklands War

Commodore Malcolm Williams was a veteran mariner who served in the Falklands War

A Royal Navy commodore who served in the Falklands War and was appointed CBE for leading disaster relief responses in Sierra Leone and Kosovo, has been killed in a tragic three-vehicle crash.

Commodore Malcolm Williams, 69, was involved in the collision between two cars and a lorry while he was driving on the A3 road in Hampshire on April 20.

He was declared dead at the scene of the accident, at Junction 3 of the A3 near Waterlooville, Hampshire. 

Commodore Williams was a veteran mariner who had served as the Operations Officer on HMS Ambuscade, a frigate which was on the frontline of the 1982 Falklands conflict.

He earned a CBE for his humanitarian work in Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Mozambique and Honduras. 

The sailor's family said he was later the navigator on the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious before he commanded frigates HMS Andromeda and HMS Scylla.

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said today: 'Mr Williams later commanded the assault ship HMS Fearless during her deployment to the Far East for the handover of Hong Kong in 1997.

'He was awarded the CBE in the New Year's Honours list for coordinating the joint response to crises in Sierra Leone, Kosovo and humanitarian responses to natural disasters in Mozambique and Honduras.'

In a touching tribute, Mr Williams family said: 'Commodore Malcolm Williams CBE RN was a man of principle, fortitude and compassion and a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.

'Both his naval career and his subsequent work were immensely important to him.

'He will be missed by those that had the privilege to know him.'

The spokesman added: 'With others, he spearheaded the campaign to halt the abolition of the cheque by banks and was a staunch advocate for proper representation and coverage of merchant seafarers during the November Ceremonies. 

He was declared dead at the scene of the accident, at Junction 3 of the A3 near Waterlooville, Hampshire

He was declared dead at the scene of the accident, at Junction 3 of the A3 near Waterlooville, Hampshire

'He later was admitted into the Fraternity of the Younger Brethren of Trinity House.' 

After leaving the navy, Mr Williams, of Southsea, Hampshire, was appointed as Chief Executive of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society where he turned his attentions to the welfare of merchant seafarers and fisherman.

The charity's current chief executive Captain Justin Osmond said: 'Sincere and ever approachable, he touched the lives of so many people, which is clearly represented by the flood of messages received by the society since this tragic news emerged.'  

Police are still investigating the collision and have requested any people who witnessed the crash or who have dashcam footage of the incident to call 101 immediately.