A Second World War ‘Tobruk’ D.S.O. and Great War M.C. group of five awarded to Major O. W. Sherwell, South African Artillery, late Royal Field Artillery

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R. 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamel, suspension bar officially dated ‘1946’, complete with brooch bar, in case of issue; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed, in case of issue; Africa Star; War and Africa Service Medals, these three officially named (105926 O. W. Sherwell); together with the recipient’s undress uniform jacket complete with riband bar, nearly extremely fine (lot) £1400-1800

D.S.O. London Gazette 19 December 1946. ‘For distinguished service at Tobruk in 1942’.

Recommendation reads: ‘For devotion to duty and for gallantry while in command of 2 Fd. Regt. S.A.A. from June 41 to June 42. At all times this officer was an inspiration and example to his men and produced a unit of great efficiency. In May and June 42 his gallantry and devotion to duty was especially outstanding when his unit was in action almost continuously between Tobruk and Gazala. As comd. of a mobile column “OGCOL” he was in close contact with the enemy from 28 May to 3 June when he was put in command of “STOPCOL” which was in action most days until 16 June when the column was ordered back to Tobruk. At all times his ledership and bravery were an inspiration to all his troops.’

M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915. ‘Second Lieutenant (Special Reserve)’

M.I.D. London Gazette 22 June 1915 (Sir John French, France).

Olga Whateley Sherwell was born in Johannesburg on 6 June 1893. He was educated at Tonbridge School and the University of London and served in the O.T.C. of both establishments.

Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the R.F.A. in August 1914, he served in France, Belgium, Salonika, Bulgaria and the Caucasus, attaining the rank of Acting Major in January 1918 and Substantive Major in April 1919. For his services in the war he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross. In addition to this M.C. he was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory Medals.

He was appointed a Major and Officer Instructor at the Artillery Training Centre at Potchefstroom, June 1940-August 1941. Later in August 1941 he disembarked at Suez. In North Africa, firstly as a Major, then as a Lieutenant-Colonel, he commanded the 2nd Light Brigade S.A.A., after which he commanded the 2nd Field Regiment S.A.A. On 5 June 1942 he was slightly wounded being hit by shrapnel in the back. On 20 June 1942, with the fall of Tobruk, he was captured and became a prisoner-of-war, being held until the end of the war. For his wartime services he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. In addition to this he was also awarded the 1939-45 Star.

With a photograph of the recipient and a quantity of copied service papers.