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Lot

№ 153

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18 July 2018

Hammer Price:
£1,500

A Second World War M.M. group of six awarded to Sergeant G. Keiller, Royal Artillery, for fearless conduct and bravery particularly on D-Day and the later battles through the Low Countries

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (759596 Sjt. G. Keiller. R.A.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R., 1st issue (759596 Sjt. C. Keiller. R.A.) extremely fine (6) £1200-1500

M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1946. Sergeant George Keiller, 76 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. The recommendation states:

‘This NCO is i/c Bty Sigs and has fought through the whole of the recent campaign. On D Day, his duties were to control several separate parties on the beach itself who were concerned with mine clearance, route marking, traffic organisation and local protection. These parties were widely separated and to begin with disorganised by the heavy mortaring and shelling of the beach. He rallied these parties and by showing a complete disregard for his own personal safety, made them effective. He continued to move from one party to another and refused to take cover. His fearless conduct, and his example of leadership and cheerfulness, and his initiative, were of the very highest order.

Since this first action of the campaign, Sjt Keiller has shown the same spirit and coolness and bravery which was marked down on D Day by so many in the Bty. His duties have been mainly concerned in the maintenance of communications. If there is a sticky job to be done on the line, it is Sjt Keiller who leads the party to do it.

During the Venraij battle the OP line was continually cut at all hours of the day and night by mortar and shell fire. Again and again Sjt Keiller calling for a volunteer went into the most unhealthy areas and re-established line communications. When things are sticky, Sjt Keiller is there. His courage and cheerfulness and leadership are recognised by all ranks.

During the campaign the communications in the Bty have been of a very high order and behind this lies a great deal of hard sweat, organisation and example on the part of the Bty NCO i/c Sigs. The above two instances are only examples of many tasks carried out by Sjt Keiller which have shown the greatest bravery and devotion to duty.’