A fine Second World War Italy operations M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant N. Quarenden, Royal Fusiliers, who was decorated for his gallantry in establishing a crossing on the River Gari during the final push on Cassino in May 1944

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6457282 Sjt. N. Quarenden, R. Fus.), in its named card box of issue; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, contact marks good very fine or better (6) £1000-1200

M.M. London Gazette 26 October 1944. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘On the night of 11-12 May 1944, two troops of the 38th Anti-Tank Battery, together with a specialist party of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, were charged with the construction of rafts across the River Rapido [sic] for the crossing of the 10th Infantry Brigade. At about 0400 hours on the 12 May, the crossing site “F2” came under very heavy mortar and machine-gun fire and many casualties were inflicted upon the construction parties.

The specialist party, of which Sergeant Quarenden was a member, became split. In the absence of his officer Sergeant Quarenden immediately rallied the remnants of the party and with untiring energy devoted himself to the evacuation of the wounded across the River Gari by raft and other means. Although continually under fire from enemy snipers, M.Gs and mortars, he showed complete fearlessness and never once wavered from his task until the bridge had been erected across the river more than 24 hours later. His personal courage, cheerfulness and infectious energy was most inspiring to all who saw him.’

The following account of the above cited action, in which Norman Quarenden is mentioned, has been taken from The Royal Fusiliers, A History of the 2nd Battalion in North Africa, Italy and Greece, March 1944 to May 1945:

‘In broad outline the plan for 4th Division, with 8th Indian operating on its left, was to force a crossing of the River Gari (often but incorrectly described as the Rapido) south of Cassino, break through the strongly defended "Gustav Line" and then swing right to cut Route 6 behind Cassino and join hands with the Polish Corps attacking in the mountains to the north. In Cassino itself 1st Guards Brigade were at first to maintain a purely defensive role and later to mop up the enemy garrison in the town.

On 10 May, the Battalion left the peaceful surroundings of Latina for their concentration area in some orchards near San Pietro Infine. Zero hour for the great offensive was 11 p.m. on the 11th, a still, warm, starlit night with only the song of nightingales to break the silence. The battle opened with the greatest barrage of the war - greater even than at Alamein. Hundreds of guns of every calibre had been secretly concentrating for weeks, and at the appointed hour all hell was let loose. The noise was shattering; continuous flashes, stretching as far as the eye could see, turned night into blinding day. The nightingales, startled into a few minutes' silence, burst into song again and throughout the night kept up their valiant efforts to drown the dreadful din. The barrage lasted, with varying intensity, for seven hours.

To this thunderous accompaniment the Battalion moved up to their forward concentration area under Mount Trocchio and occupied slit trenches evacuated by the assaulting troops. The first phase of the battle, the crossing of the River Gari, was being carried out by 10th and 28th Brigades, while 12th Brigade was held in reserve to follow through and break out from the bridgehead.

In common with most battles, the opening phase of this one did not go according to plan. The enormous weight of our artillery barrage and concentrations had not silenced by any means all the German batteries, nor had it eliminated all their well-protected machine-gun posts. The Gari is both swift and deep, and 10th and 28th Brigades suffered heavily in their assault crossing, many of their boats being sunk. For this part of the operation a party of Royal Fusiliers, commanded by Lieutenant W. G. Kentfield and consisting of the two assault sections of the Pioneer Platoon and fourteen men from rifle companies were lent to 10th Brigade to assist in ferrying the guns of 38th Anti-tank Battery across the river. Their main task was to lay summerfeld track down to the water's edge, and to clear the far bank of mines. The party was subjected to intense mortar and machine-gun fire throughout the night and suffered a number of casualties. Sergeant Quarendon, the Pioneer Sergeant, twice crossed the river under fire in order to contact Lieutenant Kentfield and the assault sections and to evacuate the wounded, and throughout the night displayed the greatest zeal and complete indifference to danger. The whole party earned the personal thanks of 10th Brigade Commander, and Sergeant Quarendon was awarded the M.M.

By the night of the 12th, only a small and precarious bridgehead had been gained, and it was imperative that the river should be bridged for the passage of much-needed reinforcements and armour. The Sappers, with their customary gallantry, laboured throughout the night in face of constant mortar and machine-gun fire, and by daylight Amazon Bridge was in working order.’

Sold with a small quantity of original documentation, including the Buckingham Palace M.M. forwarding letter and related Army Form in respect of his M.M. gratuity, together with a Dunkirk Veterans Association certificate in respect of the Battle of Dunkirk Commemorative Medal, as sent to the recipient at Streatham, London, in May 1976, and a copy of the above cited history of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (Gale & Polden, Aldershot, 1946).