Eight: Colour Sergeant F. J. Pierce, Royal Ulster Rifles, who first saw service against the Japanese during the Sino-Japanese War of 1937; landed with the 1st (Airborne) Battalion in North-West Europe on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and is believed to have been wounded that same day; and subsequently served with the Regiment in Korea, where he was wounded in action a second time, 20 January 1951

India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (7012158 Rfmn. F. J. Pierce. R.U.Rif.) officially re-impressed naming; 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Cyprus, unofficial retaining rod between clasps (7012158 Rfn. F. J. Pierce. R.U.R.); Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (7012158 Cpl. F. J. Pierce. R.U.R.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (8) £800-1200

Frederick Joseph Pierce was born in 1912 and attested for the Royal Ulster Rifles at Belfast on 22 June 1933. After four years at home he went with the 1st Battalion to Hong Kong on 5 February 1937, and it was there that he first saw active service- in August 1937 the 1st Battalion R.U.R. was moved at twenty-four hours notice from Hong Kong to Shanghai on emergency deployment following the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Battalion's task was to assist with the protection of the International Settlement: the British frontage extended for five miles and there was much to be done. Military posts had to be re-designed or re-constructed and wire fences erected. Refugees had to be controlled and internal security maintained. The perimeter wire was well outside the Settlement boundary and the area between was policed by a Chinese force responsible only to their own Government. That force was lightly armed and when its members killed two Japanese civilians it was disarmed by a platoon from Royal Ulster Rifles. The Battalion suffered five men killed/died of wounds by the Japanese during the conflict, some of the first casualties sustained by the British Army in action against Imperial Japanese forces.

Returning to Hong Kong, Pierce served with the Regiment in India from 8 December 1937 to 17 July 1940, including operations on the North-West Frontier, and during the Second World War in North-West Europe post D-Day. He landed as part of the 1st (Airborne) Battalion by glider on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and it is believed that he was wounded in action on D-Day; in any case, his Certificate of Service records him as returning to the U.K. the following day. Transferring to the Army Reserve on 16 January 1946, he was recalled to the Colours on 25 April of that year, and served with the Middle East Land Forces, on attachment to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, from 27 June 1948 to 20 April 1950. Returning to his parent unit, he served with the Royal Ulster Rifles in Korea from 1 December 1950, and was wounded in action on 20 January 1951 during the January retreat, being repatriated to Japan on 2 February 1951. Recovering from his wounds, he returned to Korea on 19 March of that year, and served at the Battle of Imjin River and during Operation Commando, 1-4 October 1951. Relieved by the Royal Norfolk Regiment, the Royal Ulster Rifles arrived in Hong Kong on 23 October 1951, and from there proceeded back to the U.K. in early 1952.

Pierce subsequently served with the British Army of the Rhine from 27 September 1954 to 27 March 1957, and then spent four months in Cyprus, from 15 May to 10 September 1957. He was discharged on 13 November 1957 after 24 years and 145 days’ service. Not finding ‘civvy-street’ to his liking, he re-enlisted in the Royal Ulster Rifles in London on 9 December 1957, and served again with the Regiment in Cyprus from 11 January 1958 to 15 November 1959, and subsequently with the British Army of the Rhine. He was finally discharged with the rank of Colour Sergeant on 9 January 1961, after a further 3 years and 32 days’ service.

Note: Pierce’s medal group represents nearly the full run of medals earned by the Royal Ulster Rifles during its entire existence 1921-68, with only the General Service Medal 1918-62 clasp ‘Palestine’ (awarded to the 2nd Battalion), and the General Service Medal 1962-2007 clasp ‘Borneo’ missing.

Sold with the recipient’s two Regular Army Certificate of Service Books; riband bar; and various copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.