An outstanding Second World War “V.C. action” D.C.M. group of six awarded to Acting Sergeant S. “Ginger” Burrage, 6th Royal Tank Regiment (R.A.C.), for magnificent courage in the desperate action at Sidi Rezegh in November 1943 - an award granted on the back of eye-witness statements from two officers of the Rifle Brigade, some sources stating that they put him up for the V.C.

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (7885179 A./Sjt. S. Burrage, R. Tank R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medal 1939-45, edge knock on the first over the digit ‘5’, very fine and better (6)
£3000-3500

D.C.M. London Gazette 19 March 1942. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘At Sidi Rezegh on 23 November 1941, he showed the greatest coolness and courage during most difficult circumstances. As a Tank Commander, he held his fire until the last moment and knocked out two enemy tanks. When his tank was finally put out of action and his crew killed, he acted magnificently under heavy fire, evacuating the wounded and forming a small First Aid Post himself. Throughout this action he caused many casualties to the enemy and was instrumental in saving the lives of many wounded, and his personal example of outstanding calmness and bravery under fire was an inspiration to all.’

Stanley “Ginger” Burrage, who enlisted in the Royal Tanks Corps in 1934, was serving in 6th Royal Tank Regiment (R.A.C.), 7th Armoured Brigade, at the time of winning his D.C.M. at Sidi Rezegh, the same occasion on which Brigadier J. C. “Jock” Campbell won the V.C. One of the great actions of the Desert War, Sidi Rezegh needs little introduction here, but it is worth noting that by close of play on 23 November 1941, 7th Armoured Brigade could only muster nine tanks of the 7th Hussars, six of the 2nd Royal Tanks, one of the 6th Royal Tanks and three of Brigade H.Q., and most of these had been hit more than once.

A glimpse of the battle and Burrage in action is to be found in With Pennants Flying, The Immortal Deeds of the Royal Armoured Corps, by David Masters:

‘The battle swayed to and fro for days, so deadly to both sides that the valley to the south of the aerodrome was dubbed Death Valley. At its height, when the tanks were going up in flames and the survivors were roaring and weaving about amid clouds of dust to kill their adversaries, Major W. G. Carr, D.S.O., calmly got out of his tank under the most intense fire to direct his crews and rally them for another grim effort. In that critical hour he proved himself a leader of men.

Most men who fought at Sidi Rezegh can recall similar heroic actions. For instance, Sergeant Stanley Burrage was seen to grapple with several enemy tanks. With skill and patience he jockeyed them into a favourable position, when he darted in and knocked out two in rapid succession. His luck did not hold.


A little later his tank was struck and his crew killed; but by one of those strange chances of war he escaped. Deprived of his tank, with his crew killed, he might at that moment have considered he had done all that was humanely possible, and made his way to the rear. Instead, the sight of the wounded around him on the battlefield prompted him to set up a little First Aid Post, where amid all the shelling and machine-gunning he tended his suffering comrades to the best of his ability. Many men owe their lives to his humane action, which was recognized by the award of the D.C.M.’

Among one or two letters from veterans of the action which are included in an accompanying file of research, is the following statement:

‘It was, I am certain, the Rifle Brigade battalion that initiated the award [Burrage’s D.C.M.]. I gather that when he had no tank left he came across a group of R.Bs who had suffered heavy casualties and had very few personnel of senior rank left and he virtually took command of them.

A few weeks after, when the 6th R.T.R. were back in the Citadel Barracks in Cairo, some - I think two - Rifle Brigade officers came into the Orderly Room and after speaking to the C.O. and Adjutant the result was that the R.S.M. made certain that all available Warrant Officers and Sergeant were in the Mess at lunch time. The R.S.M. invited the R.B. officers in who identified Stanley “Ginger” Burrage, got his service particulars from the Orderly Room and, so the story goes, actually recommended him for the V.C.’

Returning to the U.K. in 1942, Burrage served in 56 Training Unit, R.A.C., until joining 1st R.T.C. back on active service in North-West Europe.