Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 159


“In the meantime, the smaller tug, whose Master had matched the skill of his colleague on the larger vessel, had come alongside her target preceded by Graham Hayes and Tom Winter who had launched collapsible canoes from their parent ship, and had boarded the enemy vessel from them. On board they had found the watchman, who had challenged them, and who, confronted by two men with knives in their teeth and truncheons in their hands, took one horrified look and promptly dived overboard and swam for the shore”


(Extract from the book, Geoffrey: Being The Story of John Geoffrey Appleyard, DSO, MC & Bar, of the Commandos and Special Air Service Regiment, published 1947)


The exceptional and rare Second War ‘Special Forces’ M.M. group of six awarded to Warrant Officer T. W. ‘Tom’ Winter, a high-explosives expert who served as an early member of the Commandos and 11 Special Air Service, prior to being specially requested to join the newly formed Small Scale Raiding Force


Tom Winter took part in three of the S.S.R.F’s most notable raids, namely:


Operation Postmaster, the combined S.S.R.F. and S.O.E. ‘Pirate Operation’ that took place in early 1942 in west Africa, which had Ian Fleming as one of its key planners, and numbered amongst the raiders Private Anders Lassen (later V.C., M.C. & two bars), the latter of whom Winter had met off the train as a fresh recruit at St Pancras Station, having been given orders to take him under his wing, with the words: “be as strict as you can with him, but don’t go too far because he’s good hearted and good at everything, even if he does dislike discipline!”


Operation Dryad, a twelve-man smash and grab operation, which again included Private Anders Lassen, that took place in September 1942 near Aldeny in the Channel Islands


Operation Aquatint, a similar twelve-man raid that took place nine days later, that ended in disaster with all the raiders being either killed, wounded or captured, including The unit’s C.O., Major March-Phillips who was killed in action - Tom Winter himself was one of those captured - Being brutally interrogated he was lucky to escape with his life, unlike two of of his less fortunate comrades who were executed under Hitler’s infamous Commando Order


Following two years spent as a prisoner of war, Tom Winter eventually succeeded in escaping his German captors dressed as a French soldier and joined up with the liberating forces


Military Medal, G.VI.R. (108938 W.O. Cl.2. T. W. Winter. R.A.S.C.); 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star, 1 clasp, France and Germany; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45; Poland, Republic, Cross of Merit with Swords, 1st issue, Second Class, silvered and enamel, with separate crossed swords suspension, mounted court-style as worn, light pitting to M.M., otherwise generally good very fine (6)


£24,000-£30,000


M.M. London Gazette 20 June 1946. The original recommendation states: ‘Company Sergeant Major Winter has taken part in a number of recent operations including “Dryad”. In this operation his duty, in company with one other, was to force and search the actual light-tower, and throughout the operation he acted with dash and determination of a high order. Previously he took part in the successful Special Operations Executive operation “Postmaster” in which he played an important part in the capture of the German ship Lokomba and the power-driver German lighter Bibundi, on both of which he was responsible for blowing of the anchor chains with high explosives. On all occasions when in action he has acted with courage and resourcefulness, coupled with a real desire to engage the enemy. He has at all times shown himself to be a very capable N.C.O. and a fine example to his men.’


Thomas William Winter was born on 1 January 1905. An engineer by trade, he enlisted into the Army on 4 November 1939 and was posted to the Royal Army Service Corps. In 1940 he volunteered for the commandos. A brief outline of his War service is taken from a ‘Mars & Minerva’ article: ‘After seven months as a technical instructor of Mechanics with the Royal Army Service Corps, Mr. Winter volunteered for dangerous work and joined the Parachute Wing No. 2 Commando in 1940. This later became No. 11 Special Air Service and Mr. Winter was posted for duties with the Special Operations Executive which specialised in secret actions behind enemy lines. He spent nine months in a Brixham trawler with members of the Small Scale Raiding Force posing as French fisherman off the coast of West Africa on an abortive search for non-existent German submarine servicing facilities, before playing an important role in Operation Postmaster. Which together with Operation Dryad, was to gain him the Military Medal. Postmaster involved the successful overnight capture of the German freighter Likomba and its lighter, and the 9,000 ton Italian passenger and cargo ship, Duchess d’Aosta, which were “holed up” in a West African harbour because of the War.


all lots are illustrated on our website www.dnw.co.uk and are subject to buyers’ premium at 20% (+VAT where applicable)


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