Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 180


A fine Second War Italian campaign Immediate M.M. and post-war B.E.M. group of ten awarded to Colour-Sergeant J. Foster, 5th Battalion, Grenadier Guards, ‘... who stood in an open doorway on the ground floor and for an hour kept up steady and deadly accurate fire with his bren gun, mostly from the hip, at the considerable number of enemy who were attempting to form up ...’


Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2614073 Gdmn. J. Foster. G. Gds.); British Empire Medal, (Military) E.II.R. (2614073 A/W/O. II. Jack Foster, M.M., Gren. Gds.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Cyprus (2614073 W.O. Cl. 2. J. Foster. M.M. Gren. Gds.); Coronation 1953; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (2614073 Cpl. J. Foster. M.M. Gren. Gds.) small official correction to first three digits of regimental number; Meritorious Service Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (2614073 S. Sgt. J. Foster. M.M. B.E.M. Gren. Gds.) together with the recipient’s related miniature awards, both sets mounted court-style as worn, the first with contact marks from star, otherwise very fine or better (10)


£1,400-£1,800 M.M. London Gazette 6 February 1945:


‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’ The recommendation for the award of an Immediate Military Medal states:


‘Guardsman Jack Foster, 5th Battalion, Grenadier Guards, 24 Guards Brigade, 6 SA Armoured Division, XIII Corps. At 0515 hours on 25 July 1944 this Guardsman’s Company, in which he was a bren gunner, was defending a high feature (Pt 643) of vital importance to the operations of 6 South Africa, Armoured Division, when it was attacked by a strong force of German infantry. In the first instance this Guardsman’s Platoon was not directly attacked although it came under severe small arms fire as soon as the attack started. Owing to the dense bush running close up to the position and the great determination with which the attack was launched, the other two Platoons, however, which were very weak in numbers, were soon hard pressed. Guardsman Foster was ordered to take his bren group to assist the Platoon on top of the hill which he instantly did, moving across to it under heavy fire. He then went into a small house and fired at the approaching Germans from a top window, inflicting a considerable number of casualties. When, in spite of this fire, the Germans succeeded in establishing Spandau posts within 30 yards of the house and out of sight of his window, Guardsman Foster came down and stood in an open doorway on the ground floor and for an hour kept up steady and deadly accurate fire with his bren gun, mostly from the hip, at the considerable number of enemy who were attempting to form up in the bushes. Throughout this period he was under constant Spandau, grenade and rifle fire from very close range and was himself without any cover whatever from the direction of the enemy Spandaus. On this occasion the outstanding personal gallantry of this Guardsman (whose steadiness under fire had always been notable) and his great skill with his weapon was largely responsible for the easing of a situation which had, by the time he arrived on the scene, become extremely critical.’


B.E.M. London Gazette 10 June 1961.


The recommendation states: ‘This gallant and distinguished Colour Sergeant has served for nearly 27 years in this Regiment. He won the Military Medal for gallantry in 1944 when serving with the 5th Battalion Grenadier Guards in Italy and has served continuously in the Battalion since 1950. He has been employed as Colour Sergeant i/c Musketry and during the last ten years has served with the Battalion in BAOR twice, at home, and in the Middle East twice. Over this whole period the service he has rendered to this Battalion has been quite exceptional. He insists on the highest standards yet nevertheless he has been the father and friend to the youngest Guardsman and has never spared himself in promoting the cult of good shooting. The results he has achieved have been outstanding and have brought this Battalion great credit. By doing far more than his job demanded out of working hours he has coached the Battalion team to win Rifle meetings at Brigade and Divisional level. On many occasions he has shown complete disregard for his own safety when dealing with blinds and misfires, and he has always resolutely refused any assistance from a subordinate, preferring to accept all risks himself. He is without doubt a most wonderful example of a selfless and loyal Grenadier and his influence on the young Guardsmen goes far beyond that normally exerted by a Colour Sergeant i/c Musketry.’


Jack Foster attested for the Grenadier Guards, and was serving with the 5th Battalion during the Second World War in Irtaly when he was awarded the Military Medal, the action taking place in the high hills of Tuscany, near Greve, about 12 miles south of Florence. The position was successfully captured and held by the 5th Battalion on the night of 25-26 July, and became known as ‘Grenadier Ridge’. He subsequently served


Sold with three letters of congratulations to the recipient upon the award of his B.E.M., from Major-General D. S. Gordon, C.B.E., D.S. O.; Major-General W. A. G. Burns, C.B., D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C.; and Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. Turner, O.B.E., D.C.M.; together with a congratulatory telegram from the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards’ Sergeants Mess; letter to the recipient’s father enclosing a copy of the citation for his M.M.; two copied letters regarding the Military Medallist League 50th Anniversary Parade 1966; a letter of recommendation regarding the recipient from Captain D. V. Fanshawe, Uppingham School C.C.F.; and six photographs of the recipient.


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