A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties (Part II)
By 22 September the complete drop of the British Airborne was over and they were engaged in very heavy fighting throughout Arnhem and the Perimeter: ‘All platoons were heavily engaged during the day by a combination of mortar fire and prowling S.P. guns. Added to this was the increased danger from snipers who attempted to infiltrate the area and were intent on taking up positions on rooftops and in trees. The Intelligence Officer, John Horsley, made the hazardous task of stalking snipers his speciality. Whenever a sniper was reported to be troubling our positions he went out armed with a Schmiesser which he obtained while fighting in Italy. When he returned he smiled contentedly and proudly proclaimed “That’s another bastard less!”’
However, Horsley’s luck ran out during the withdrawal of the remnants of the Division on the evening of 25 September: ‘As the main column approached the river it ran into an enemy strongpoint consisting of two machine guns. As they opened fire the burst caught Major Wilson, Signalman Logan, and Lieutenant Horsley. Wilson escaped with a flesh wound to the face; Logan was hit in the arm and subsequently taken prisoner; and Lieutenant Horsley was wounded and left behind with Logan; Horsley died of his wounds in hospital two days later.’
Horsley was aged 24 at the time of his death. He is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Holland. His medals were sent to his father Tom Mason Horsley.
Sold with the Personal Effects Parcel notice, named to the deceased recipient; two photographic images of the recipient; and a copy of the Book Leading the Way to Arnhem, An Illustrated History of the 21st Independent Parachute Company 1942-46, by Peter Gijbels and David Truesdale.
991 Four: Sergeant F. Wilson, Green Howards, who died during the re-conquest of Burma, 17 November 1944
1939-45 STAR; BURMA STAR; DEFENCE ANDWAR MEDALS 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. E. Wilson, 3 Thornley Road, Prestwick, Manchester’, nearly extremely fine (4)
£80-120
Frank Wilson served during the Second World War as a Corporal (acting Sergeant) with the 2nd Battalion, Green Howards (Yorkshire Regiment), and died during the re-conquest of Burma on 17 November 1944.
Wilson was aged 24 at the time of his death. He is buried in Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma. His medals were sent to his mother Elizabeth Jane Wilson.
For the medals awarded to the recipient’s brother, Private R. Wilson, see the following lot. 992
Three: Private R. Wilson, Dorset Regiment, who was killed in action in the push across the Rhine, possibly by friendly- fire, 16 February 1945
1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR;WARMEDAL 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. C. Wilson, 3 Thornley Road, Preswich, Manchester’, nearly extremely fine (3)
£80-120
Roy Wilson served during the Second World War as a Private with the 5th Battalion, Dorset Regiment. On 15 February 1945 the Battalion was involved in the push across the Rhine and the taking of the town of Berghof. Arriving on the outskirts of the town the following morning, 16 February, they came under machine gun fire from both the enemy and troops of the 7th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Unknown to them, at the same time that the Dorsets had approached Berghof, the enemy had counter-attacked in an attempt to hold the town. The Hampshires, not realising the situation, were not only keeping the Germans at bay, but also men of the Dorsets, with heavy casualties.
Wilson was amongst those killed, possibly by friendly-fire, aged 19. He is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his father Cecil Wilson.
For the medals awarded to the recipient’s brother, Sergeant F. Wilson, see the previous lot. 993
Three: Company Sergeant Major W. T. Mashford, 12th (Airborne) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, who was killed in action during Operation Varsity, the crossing of the Rhine, 24 March 1945
1939-45 STAR; FRANCE AND GERMANY STAR; DEFENCE ANDWAR MEDALS 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mr. C. R. D. Mashford, Lambside Farm, Newton Ferrers, Nr Plymouth, Devon’, extremely fine (4)
£180-220
William Thomas Mashford served during the Second World War as Company Sergeant Major with the 12th (Airborne) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. On 24 March 1945 the Battalion took part in Operation Varsity, 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 12 Parachute Battalions (five British, one Canadian, and six American), supported by glider troops from the Air Landing Brigade dropped on 24 March as a complete force, thus avoiding the mistakes made at Arnhem. Together with the United States 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 12 Parachute Battalions, and these were closely followed by 1,300 gliders packed with troops. The enemy was expecting the invasion and the fighting on the Drop Zones was particularly heavy.
In his book Airborne at War, Sir Napier Crookenden recounts: ‘They were at 3,200 feet. Boucher-Giles spotted the Issel and the autobahn and knew he was too far east. As he made a steep turn to starboard machine gun bullets came through the floor and his flaps seemed to be inoperable. He came down to 500 feet in a series of ‘S turns’ and then made a good landing in a ploughed field, some sixty yards from the woods and half a miles from the landing zone, among a number of American Waco gliders. They got out to find themselves under fire from a large building 80 yards away. While Company Sergeant Major Mashford opened up on the farm with a Bren gun the rest of them set about unloading the glider. As Boucher-Giles was fixing the explosive cord round the tail to blow it off he was hit in the leg and his second pilot, Sergeant Garland, dragged him into a ditch. They were now under attack from a German tank with some infantry in two half tracks. Major Rogers was wounded in the arm, Mashford was killed instantly, but they were able to knock out the tank and the half tracks with a Piat. The two glider pilots were eventually picked up and taken to a medical dressing station by some Americans and the rest of them were able to rejoin the Devons in Hamminkeln.’
Casualties were heavy, and 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. However, 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.
Mashford was amongst those killed, aged 32. He is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. His medals were sent to his father Mr. C. R. D. Mashford.
Sold with a group photographic image of the “D” Company, 12th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, showing the recipient.
www.dnw.co.uk
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