GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY 151
A good Second War 1944 immediate ‘North West Europe’ M.M. awarded to Private T. H. Smith, 6th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, for his gallantry as a Bren Gunner during a series of charges over open ground against German positions in Dorset Wood, Rischden, north of Geilenkirchen, 30 December 1944. Firing from the hip, Smith cleared several machine-gun posts and personally accounted for a number of enemy troops
MILITARY MEDAL,
G.VI.R. (14212112 Pte. T. H. Smith. H.L.I.) unit officially corrected, very fine M.M. London Gazette 5 April 1945, the Recommendation states:
‘On 30 December 1944, Private Smith was the Bren Gunner in a section which was engaged in a Company counter-attack against enemy positions in Dorset Wood, Rischden, north of Geilenkirchen. In the face of heavy machine-gun and mortar fire, he advanced with his section across 400 yards of open country, firing his Bren Gun from the hip with such accuracy and determination that he killed several of the enemy in dug-out positions on the edge of the wood and drove the remainder from their posts. Without hesitation, Private Smith continued to advance into the wood in close pursuit of the retreating enemy, until confronted by a further enemy machine-gun post, so sited that it might have held up the advance of the Company. Private Smith immediately charged the post, still firing his Bren Gun from the hip, to such good effect that one of the enemy was killed, whereupon the others surrendered to him.
By his courage and desire to close with and destroy the enemy Private Smith undoubtedly inflicted considerable casualties on the enemy through his own personal efforts and was largely responsible for enabling his section to secure its objective and to re-establish contact with a sub-unit of another Battalion which had been isolated for several hours.’
£600-800
152
A Second War 1944 Burma operations M.M. group of five awarded to Gunner E. S. Kitchen, 9th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
MILITARYMEDAL,
G.VI.R., 2nd issue (276351 Gnr. E. S. Kitchen. R.A.) edge stamped ‘Duplicate’; 1939-45 STAR; BURMA STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS 1939-45, mounted for wear, with named card box of issue for M.M., this also marked ‘Duplicate’, generally good very fine (5)
£400-500
M.M. London Gazette 28 June 1945. The Recommendation states: ‘For continuous gallant service. Throughout the operations in the Bishenpur area from May to June 1944 Gunner Kitchen showed outstanding devotion to duty and courage in his unflagging efforts to maintain his Observation Post lines, which were long, exposed to enemy fire, and constantly being cut. In particular on the night 19/20 May when the enemy attacked “Water Picquet” position, the line was cut by enemy shell fire on five separate occasions. Each time Gunner Kitchen, with complete disregard for his own safety, went out and repaired the line, thus enabling much needed D.F. fire to be brought down. Again from 26 May to 4 June, as a member of a very much under strength Observation Post party at “Evans Knob”, it was entirely due to Gunner Kitchen’s bravery, unfailing energy, and devotion to duty, often working alone, that kept his vital Observation Post line through.
Gunner Kitchen’s work under shell fire, his cool courage and complete disregard for danger, his great zeal and devotion to duty in his determination to keep his Observation Post line though at all costs, was of the very highest order, and was an inspiration to all those working with him.’
Sold with original envelope for the medals, addressed to ‘Mr E. Kitchen, M.M., 37 Lessington Avenue, Romford, Essex’.
153
A Second World War M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant G. Keiller, Royal Artillery, for fearless conduct and bravery particularly on D-Day and the later battles through the Low Countries
MILITARY MEDAL,
G.VI.R. (759596 Sjt. G. Keiller. R.A.); 1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS; EFFICIENCY MEDAL, Territorial,
G.VI.R., 1st issue (759596 Sjt. C. Keiller. R.A.) extremely fine (6)
£1200-1500 M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1946. Sergeant George Keiller, 76 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. The recommendation states:
‘This NCO is i/c Bty Sigs and has fought through the whole of the recent campaign. On D Day, his duties were to control several separate parties on the beach itself who were concerned with mine clearance, route marking, traffic organisation and local protection. These parties were widely separated and to begin with disorganised by the heavy mortaring and shelling of the beach. He rallied these parties and by showing a complete disregard for his own personal safety, made them effective. He continued to move from one party to another and refused to take cover. His fearless conduct, and his example of leadership and cheerfulness, and his initiative, were of the very highest order.
Since this first action of the campaign, Sjt Keiller has shown the same spirit and coolness and bravery which was marked down on D Day by so many in the Bty. His duties have been mainly concerned in the maintenance of communications. If there is a sticky job to be done on the line, it is Sjt Keiller who leads the party to do it.
During the Venraij battle the OP line was continually cut at all hours of the day and night by mortar and shell fire. Again and again Sjt Keiller calling for a volunteer went into the most unhealthy areas and re-established line communications. When things are sticky, Sjt Keiller is there. His courage and cheerfulness and leadership are recognised by all ranks.
During the campaign the communications in the Bty have been of a very high order and behind this lies a great deal of hard sweat, organisation and example on the part of the Bty NCO i/c Sigs. The above two instances are only examples of many tasks carried out by Sjt Keiller which have shown the greatest bravery and devotion to duty.’
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