A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties 299
Four: Private H. R. Sykes, Worcestershire Regiment, killed in action during the re-conquest of Burma, 18 December 1944
1939-45 STAR; BURMA STAR; DEFENCE ANDWAR MEDALS 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. C. E. Sykes, 14 Alexander Street, North Town, Aldershot’, extremely fine (4)
£80-120
Harry Randall Sykes served with the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, during the Second World War and was killed in action during the re-conquest of Burma during the night of 18-19 December 1944. The Regimental history gives the following account: ‘Accordingly, the Battalion received orders on the evening of the 18th to move off that night and occupy Nankan; some 12 miles ahead down quite a good road, on the 19th, if possible before first light. Unfortunately, these orders were not received until shortly before dark and little time was left for planning and issuing the necessary orders. The schedule time for starting was 23:00 hours but getting mules and ammunition issued out to Companies in the pitch dark and dense jungle was extremely difficult and it was not until about midnight that the column finally moved off, with “A” Company in the lead, followed by Battalion HQ and the Defence PIatoon with “C” Company behind them. The other two companies were in rear. All Administration stores and unnecessary personnel had, of course, been left behind at Shwedaung. The Commanding Officer’s plan was to move down side tracks to the East of the road so as to avoid being spotted, if possible. But the tracks turned out to be very bad, the night march was extremely slow and eventually the Battalion found itself back on the main road once more as it was just beginning to get light. The column had by this time become very strung out and “A” Company having missed the way once and thus lost its place at the head of the column, the march was continued with the Defence Platoon in the lead. The Commanding Officer decided to send “C” Company round to enter Nankan now about two miles ahead, from the West along the line of the railway while he pushed on down the road. This movement began about 09:00 hours. Shortly afterwards the Defence Platoon was ambushed within a mile of Nankan and suffered casualties. Two men were killed and Lieutenant Baggott the Platoon Commander was severely wounded. “A” Company came to their assistance and push very slowly on down the road, meeting slight opposition.’
Sykes was aged 32 at the time of his death; he is buried in Imphal War Cemetery. 300
Four: Sapper J. J. Collin, 24th Bomb Disposal Company, Royal Engineers, who was killed on active operations with the Explosive Ordnance Department at Nijmegan, Holland, on 25 February 1945
1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE ANDWARMEDALS 1939-45, with named Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. L. E. J Collin, 74 Horncastle Road, Lee, SE12’, extremely fine (4)
£140-180
John James Collin served with 24th Bomb Disposal Company, Royal Engineers during the Second World War. After D-Day 24th Company was attached to the Canadian Army, and during the period 6 June 1944 to 25 August 1945 the five Royal Engineer Companies in north-west Europe disposed of 939,061 unexploded bombs, mines and other ordnance - not including booby traps. Collin was killed whilst serving on an active operation at Nijmegan, Holland, on 25 February 1945, aged 26, and is buried in Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Holland.
Sold together with a photograph of the recipient.
301
Three: Lance-Corporal B. Langton, 13th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, killed in action during Operation Varsity, the Rhine Crossing, 24 March 1945
1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR;WAR MEDAL 1939-45, with named Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. P. D. Langton, c/o Messrs Morgan Price Marley & Corby, 5 & 6 Great Winchester Street, London, EC2’, extremely fine (3)
£140-180
Benjamin Langton served with the 13th (2/4th battalion, South Lancashire Regiment) Battalion, Parachute Regiment during the Second World War, and took part in Operation Varsity, the Rhine Crossing, on 24 March 1945. Operation Varsity was the biggest and most successful airborne operation in history, marking the beginning of the end for Germany as the allied airborne troops mounted the final barrier and crossed the Rhine. In total six Parachute Battalions, including Canadians of the 6th Airborne Division supported by glider troops from the Air Landing Brigade dropped on 24 March 1945 as a complete force, thus avoiding the mistakes made at Arnhem. Together with the US 17th Airborne Division the aim of the operation was to secure and deepen the bridgehead east of the Rhine and then advance across country to the Baltic Coast, a journey of 350 miles. The initial objectives were the high ground overlooking the crossing point at Diersfordter Wald and the road and rail bridges over the river Issel at Hamminkeln. Flying in very tight formation 540 American Dakota aircraft carried the twelve Parachute Battalions, five British, one Canadian and six American; they were closely followed by 1,300 gliders packed with troops. The Germans were expecting the invasion and the fighting on the Drop Zones was particularly heavy. By the end of the first day 1,078 men of the 6th Airborne Division had either been killed or wounded and fifty aircraft along with eleven gliders were shot down. Weather for the drop was perfect and almost everyone landed on their respective Drop Zones; however, some ended up in the trees and were cut down by German machine gun fire as they fought to free themselves. The 5th Parachute Brigade suffered heavily from casualties as mortar fire exploded around them during the drop. On the ground the enemy had occupied almost all of the nearby houses but by late afternoon, the Brigade’s three Parachute Battalions (7th, 12th and 13th) had cleared them all. Within twenty-four hours all objectives had been achieved as planned and the bridges over the river were secured. The village of Hamminkeln was captured and the Division was joined by ground troops of the 21st Army Group for the advance across Germany.
Langton was one of those killed that day, aged 20. He is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. 302 Four: Lance-Bombardier J. C. Holloway, Royal Artillery
1939-45 STAR; BURMA STAR; WAR MEDAL 1939-45; EFFICIENCY MEDAL,
G.VI.R., 1st issue, Territorial (2051379. Gnr. J. C. Holloway. R.A.), with named Army Council enclosure, nearly extremely fine (4)
£80-120
J. C. Holloway served during the Second World War with the 75th Searchlight Battery (Middlesex), Royal Artillery. Although his Second War awards are accompanied by a named Army Council condolence enclosure, he is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the circumstances behind his death are unknown.
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