A Second War 1944 ‘Italian operations’ M.C. group of six attributed to Lieutenant D. J. C. King, Royal Artillery

Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; together with the six related miniature awards, riband bars, and Ministry of Pensions The King’s Badge in box of issue, nearly extremely fine (6) £600-£800

M.C. London Gazette 19 April 1945:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘On the 8th July 1944 Lieut. King was a Forward Observation Officer supporting the attack on Filottrano by the 5th Polish Infantry Brigade and Italian Forces. In accordance with his orders, he proceeded along the road leading to Filottrano, which was under heavy mortar and shell fire. His vehicle was damaged and immobilised by mortar bombs, but he continued to advance towards the village on foot, with a No. 38 Wireless Set. The situation at the time was very obscure, but he managed to gain contact with the Italian Commander in the village, part of which was held by enemy infantry and AFVs. During this period Lieut. King was under continuous shell and mortar fire, but he carried on with his duty with remarkable coolness and courage and passed back valuable information and useful hostile shelling reports.

On the 7th August 1944 Lieut. King was performing the duties of G.P.O. at his Troop position, when a direct hit was sustained on one of the gun pits, killing three men and seriously wounding two others, at the same time setting alight the charges in the gun pit. Lieut. King immediately went to the scene and assisted by one other rank carried the two wounded men to safety, at considerable danger to himself from blazing charges and the possibility of exploding shells.’

David James Cathcart King was born in 1913, and was educated at the University of Bristol. He served during the Second War as a Lieutenant with the 26th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery. After the war King taught History at Walton Lodge Preparatory School, Bristol. He was an authority on Castles, and his papers are held in the University of Bristol Special Collections. In later life he resided in Clevedon, and he died in September 1989.

Sold with the following documentation: a portrait photograph of recipient in uniform; a publicity pamphlet advertising Castellarium Anglicanum by D. J. King, available 1981; The Pembrokeshire Historian, Journal of the Pembrokeshire Local History Society, No. 7, 1981, front cover inscribed ‘Mrs Vowles as a ‘get well’ present. KD’, also features an article by King; four Cambrian Archaeological Association academic publications - all with work by King, two signed by the latter; The Carmarthenshire Antiquary, featuring work by King, and also signed by the latter; with other ephemera and copied research - including a photographic image of the recipient in uniform.