A Second World War Italy operations D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Brigadier P. G. C. Preston, Lincolnshire Regiment, who was decorated for his gallantry as C.O. of 28 Infantry Brigade at the capture of Forli in November 1944

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1945’; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (Capt. P. G. C. Preston, Linc. R.); 1939-45 Star, privately inscribed, ‘Brig. P. G. C. Preston, 28 Brigade’; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army, privately inscribed, ‘Lt. Col. P. G. C. Preston, Recce. Corps’; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, these last three privately inscribed, ‘Brig. P. G. C. Preston, 28 Brigade’; Coronation 1937; Greece, Order of George I, Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, together with a set of related miniature dress medals, very fine and better (18) £2500-3000

D.S.O. London Gazette 26 April 1945. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘Brigadier P. G. C. Preston was commanding 28th Infantry Brigade in the breakout from the RONCO bridgehead. It was largely due to his direction and leadership that his brigade, after a day of very hard fighting on 8 November 1944, was able to advance and take part in the capture of Forli the next day. Throughout the operation he was continually forward in areas subjected to heavy mortar and small arms fire controlling the operations of his battalions. With no thought for his personal safety, he ensured that the offensive was carried on as vigorously and rapidly as possible. Brigadier Preston’s planning and co-ordination of operations were of the same high standard as his personal bravery, and his courage and ability so inspired his brigade that the operations were completely successful, the opposition broken and the town of Forli itself captured with little opposition.’

Patrick Guy Carbery Preston was born in November 1902, the son of Colonel Eyre Evans Preston of the Indian Army, and was educated at Bedford and the R.M.C. Sandhurst.

Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment in August 1922, he was advanced to Lieutenant in August 1924 and to Captain in May 1935, and served as Adjutant from December 1936 until December 1939, in which period he witnessed active service in Palestine (Medal & clasp).

Having been advanced to Major on the eve of the renewal of hostilities, he was next present in operations with the B.E.F., including Dunkirk, and in the Western Desert in 1943, prior to being transferred to Italy, where, although still a Major, he was appointed a temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and acting Brigadier, with command of 28th Infantry Brigade, part of 4th British Infantry Division, and it was in this capacity that he won his D.S.O. for the above cited deeds in November 1944.

He also saw action in Greece and was appointed a Commander of the Order of George I; sold with a small photograph album containing around a dozen images for his time in the latter theatre of war.