A Second World War North Africa operations group of four awarded to Lance-Sergeant W. F. Davey, Royal Artillery

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (791729 L. Sjt. W. F. Davey, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf, good very fine and better (4) £800-1000

M.M. London Gazette 18 February 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘This Sergeant Fitter has done some magnificent work both in maintaining the Battery’s vehicles and recovering vehicles from dangerous country in front of our O.Ps. On several occasions, he has worked on abandoned vehicles under heavy shell fire until he has been able to drive them back into our lines.

On one occasion, in the last campaign, he continued to work on a broken down portee while in the middle of a tank battle.

This N.C.O’s consistent courage, cheerfulness and complete disregard of his own safety has been an outstanding example to the other men in the Battery, and he has been responsible for saving a large number of vehicles from either falling into the enemy’s hands or being destroyed.’

William Frederick Davey was decorated for his services in 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, a unit of the famous 7th Armoured Division, the “Desert Rats”, in the period leading up to October 1942. He had earlier won a “mention” for gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East (London Gazette 9 Sept 1942 refers), on which occasion he was originally recommended for the B.E.M.

In November 1941, a troop of the regiment’s guns under 2nd Lieutenant G. W. Gunn, attached to the Rifle Brigade, participated in the famous action at Sidi Rezegh, Gunn being awarded a posthumous V.C. - with the position under attack from 60 tanks, he personally manned his last operational gun on a burning portee, alongside the only Sergeant of crew left, and managed to destroy two more tanks before falling shot through the forehead.