Six gallantry medals, Helchteren, 10 September 1944

Discussion in 'General' started by 8RB, Apr 14, 2021.

  1. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    For their bravery during a fierce battle with several hundred German "Fallschirmjager", at Helchteren, Belgium, on 10 September 1944 (see D-Day to VE-Day - 8th Rifle Brigade), 6 members of the 8th Rifle Brigade (5 from H Company) were awarded gallantry medals:
    - DSO: Lt.-Col. Tony Hunter, DSO, MBE, MC
    - DCM: Cpl. George Pratt, DCM
    - MC: Major Peter Bradford, DSO, MC; Capt. Johnny Straker, MC; Lt. Jeffrey Coryton, MC
    - MM: Rfn. Frank Bennett, MM

    I have a feeling this number of decorations for one action is quite exceptional. Is it?
     
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  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Interesting query.
    I have only dates for IG, haven't gone through the other Guards regiments.

    For 'The Bou', Pt 212, 1 Irish Guards:

    2721511 Anthony ASHTON, DCM, 1 Irish Guards
    2721689 Henry HAYMAN, MM, 1 Irish Guards
    2717731 Denis HICKEY, MM, 1 Irish Guards
    2721385 John William Frost HOLLINGWORTH, MM, 1 Irish Guards
    2722925 John KENNEALLY, VC, 1 Irish Guards
    2718820 Desmond Thomas Lee LYNCH, MBE, DCM, 1 Irish Guards
    2718877 Patrick MERCER, MBE, MM, 1 Irish Guards
    2720987 Samuel James NICHOLSON, 1 Irish Guards
    +
    Remembering Today 30/4/43 Sgt. Harry Salt, MID, 5050828, 1st Reconnaissance Regiment recommended for MiD by 1IG, KIA



    For 10 September 1944, Irish Guards Group:

    2722698 Herbert William BARNETT, MM, 2 Irish Guards Joe's Bridge
    2720932 Fred STEERS, MM, 1 Irish Guards
    2722656 Claude Duncan KETTLEBOROUGH, MM, 2 Irish Guards
    267573 Duncan LAMPARD, Irish Guards
    6977185 Thomas Edward McGURREN, MM, 2 Irish Guards
    132247 David Arthur PEEL, MC, 2 Irish Guards
    2719063 Thomas WRIGHT, MM, 2 Irish Guards

    2719886 Matthew FITZSIMMONS, MM, 2 Irish Guards Hechtel
    278682 Charles Barton TOTTENHAM, MC, 2 Irish Guards Hechtel


    237623 John Oliver STANLEY-CLARKE, MC, 3 Irish Guards Joe's Bridge
    2723977 Eric Mafeking COLTHORPE, MM, 3 Irish Guards
    2721687 Kenneth FIELDING, MM, 3 Irish Guards
    2723687 Colin MOLLARD, MM, 3 Irish Guards
    2723650 Henry TRIMBLE, MM, 3 Irish Guards
    +
    269055 Ronnie Hutton, MC, 615 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Joe's Bridge, supporting 3IG, recommended by JOE Vandeleur
    2117990 Thomas SMITH, MM, 615 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers Joe's Bridge supporting 3IG, recommended by JOE Vandeleur
     
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  3. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member

    Hi 8RB,

    Please see below Cpl Pratt's citation. His Commanding Officer originally wrote him up for a Military Medal. It was the Brigade Commander who upgraded the recommendation to the DCM and signed off by Monty.

    upload_2021-4-15_14-59-12.png

    Regards

    Bruneval
     
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  4. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    On 13th December 1944 about 1000 x ELAS (Greek Insurgency) attacked the rear HQ of 23rd Armoured Brigade Group in Athens.

    The Barracks was defended by a motley crew of RASC, RE, RCS and a mortar platoon of KRRC. They were probably out numbered 2 to one maybe worse.

    After about 4 hours, the attack was repelled, but several of 23rd Armoured Brigade Group were killed or wounded and over 100 taken prisoner.

    At present I can pretty much pin (pardon the pun) 2 MCs, 8 MMs 1 BEM and 1 MID to the relatively short action and can partly proportion a MM, BEM and a MBE.

    Uniquely attributed to.

    MC
    109337 Band Victor Henry Captain (temporary) 331 Company, RASC Deputy Commander (2IC) (2)
    334467 Standish-White Dennis William Lieutenant 1238 Field Company, RE OC 1 Platoon (1)

    MM
    T/133812 Carter John Walter Belcher Driver 331st Company, RASC (2)
    T/267603 Hobson Horace Driver 331st Company, RASC (2)
    5113580 Jackson Thomas Corporal 1238 Field Company, RE Cook attached to 1238 Fd Coy RE (1)
    1764676 Parfitt Frank Llewellyn Driver 1238 Field Company, RE Driver (1)
    T7576503 Prickett Walter Driver 331st Company, RASC Driver (2)
    2365720 Stevenson Henry William Corporal 23rd Armoured Brigade Signals Wireless Control Room NCO
    1912931 Winter Thomas Harold Corporal 1238 Field Company, RE (1)
    2035671 Mitchell Frank Walter Gunner Royal Regiment of Artillery (RA) 66th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA 276 LAA Bty, 66th LAA Regt. (4)

    BEM
    S/274917 Ritson Ronald Corporal 331st Company, RASC British Empire Medal (BEM) (3)

    MID
    7913079 LACEY John William Sergeant HQ Squadron Protective Troop SNCO MID (1 of 2 MIDS he was awarded whilst in Greece)

    Partly attributed to

    MM
    7906273 Thorne Jack Lance Corporal HQ Squadron Scout Car Driver

    MBE
    232225 Layton Stanley Hinks Captain (temporary) HQ 331st Company, RASC Headquarters Captain Member of the British Empire (MBE)

    Sources:
    (1) War Diary 1238 Field Company RE - Feb 45 (WO 170-5350) - Entry 021200 hrs
    (2) The Story of The Royal Army Service Corps 1939 - 1945
    (3) BEM award for Cpl Ritson (WO 373/75/438)
    (4) War Diary of 66th L.A.A. Regiment R.A - February 1945. WO 170/4892

    Unfortunately this will be next to impossible to get the full story as the award recommendations have gone AWOL and a lot of diaries were destroyed fearing they were about to be overthrown. So I have had to rely on secondary sources for into (books, newspapers, etc.)

    There is already a post all about the of missing recommendations. Missing Award Recommedations - WO 373

    Gus
     
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2021
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  5. 8RB

    8RB Well-Known Member

    Thanks! Hadn't noticed that. Very nice to know!
     
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  6. Bruneval

    Bruneval Well-Known Member


    Hi Gus,

    In the absence of any citations, I thought you may like this extract from the 'The Story of The Royal Army Service Corps 1939 - 1945' - The first and most serious attack against our forces took place early on December 13th against the collection of units in the infantry barracks, which included 331 Company, RASC. Throughout the night of December 12th/13th there was heavy fighting around the barracks, which proved to be attacks on the Greek Mountain Brigade who were expected to reinforce the garrison of the barracks if they were attacked. In the first confusion which resulted in the pitch dark night, when the ELAS blew a hole in the barracks wall, it was difficult to distinguish between friend and foe until blazing petrol and burning huts lit up the scene. It is estimated that nearly 700 ELAS troops were able to gain entry before the situation could be taken in hand, but not before there had been many casualties. The men in the stronger buildings held out, but intense heat and fire gave the platoons in the flimsier billets little chance...Dvr W Prickett who performed one hazardous task after the other until badly burned, but even refused to give up until the enemy had been cleared. Capt VH Band, in spite of enemy fire, organised the clearance of petrol stocks to a safer point and later went in search of wounded under enemy fire until, wounded himself, he was rescued under heavy fire by Dvrs JWE Carter and H Hobson. Capt Band and the three drivers were given immediate awards of the Military Cross and the Military Medal respectively.

    Regards

    Bruneval
     
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2021
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  7. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi Bruneval

    Yes I found this book in my library many years ago and the content was almost identical to
    Waiting for the waggon by D.J. Sutton (History of RASC in WW2)

    I have updated my list of secondary sources

    Thanks again

    Gus
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2021

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