A Dunkirk Medal of Bravery recipient lost in North Queensland since 1952

A North Queensland woman has been searching her entire life for her father, a Medal of Bravery recipient for his efforts during World War II.

Judith Bronwyn Murphy with her father's Word War II medals. Picture: Shae Beplate.

A NORTH Queensland woman has been searching her entire life for her father, who received a Medal of Bravery for his efforts during World War II.

The British Able Seaman Albert Thomas Williams helped evacuate 4000 Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the north of France in 1940 in an event that helped shape the history of World War II.

Mr Williams’ daughter, Judith Bronwyn Murphy, still holds her father’s most valuable belongings.

“He was awarded that (the medal) at Buckingham Palace and King George actually pinned it on him,” Ms Murphy said.

“I’ve got the original tickets from when he was called there.”

Ms Murphy has no memories of her decorated father as he left their Mackay family home to work away when she was just two and she did not see him again. She has great regrets of never knowing him.

Judith Bronwyn Murphy's father's Word War II medals and memorabilia. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“I always missed him and wanted to know him,” Ms Murphy said.

“When I was a little girl at school I made up this fantastic story about my father being a hero and they gave me a special award but I actually didn’t know he had all of these awards until I was 28.” Ms Murphy, who is now 69, said she wanted to put her father’s story back in the spotlight as the world paused to remember the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, which saw an Allied invasion in France to bring an end to the Nazi invasion.

“My father was a hero and it still takes my breath away when I hear about it because you hear about men who gun down 30 enemies but my father actually saved 4000 men and sent them home to their families,” Ms Murphy said.

Ms Murphy believes her father died alone somewhere in North Queensland after he cut himself off from his family after his marriage to her mother broke down in 1952.

“He was very close to his mother and father, he even brought his mother out to Australia,” Ms Murphy said.

“I was 18 when I started searching in earnest and I would go through the phone book and ring every name and ask them if they knew Albert Thomas Williams.

“Like a lot of servicemen they just went under a bridge and drank out of a bottle.”

Ms Murphy hopes a recent finding of a mysterious death certificate turns out to be the man she has spent her life searching for.

Originally published as A Dunkirk Medal of Bravery recipient lost in North Queensland since 1952