Orders, Decorations and Medals

A very rare Warrant Officer’s Second World War ‘Monte Cassino’ M.C. group of seven awarded to Regimental Sergeant-Major A. E. Narborough, Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry

Military Cross, G.VI.R. reverse inscribed, ‘R.S.M. A. E. Narborough, 2nd D.C.L.I., Cassino’, officially dated ‘1944’, in Royal Mint case of issue; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (5434438 W.O. Cl.1, D.C.L.I.) very fine and better (7) £2000-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of Brigadier Brian Parritt, C.B.E..

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M.C. London Gazette 26 October 1944. Recommendation states: ‘During the period 11-17 May 1944 the (2nd) Battalion was involved in very strenuous fighting including the crossing of the River Gari, the successful attack on Pt.63 and subsequent operations leading to the capture of Cassino. During this period, R.S.M. Narborough made many journeys in carriers and jeeps delivering ammunition and rations to forward companies. These journeys were made under heavy shelling and mortar fire, and this Warrant Officer was twice slightly wounded. He showed no hesitation in continuing his hazardous task, and his cheerful spirit, leadership and initiative were largely instrumental in maintaining the high morale of this Battalion during a very hard period of fighting. I consider that the personal conduct of this Warrant Officer was an outstanding feature of a very successful operation, and that the magnificent spirit of all ranks of the Battalion in strenuous fighting and under very heavy shelling was largely due to his very fine example which was an inspiration not only to this unit but other units in the area’.

M.I.D. London Gazette 27 January 1944.

Alfred E. Narborough enlisted into the Hampshire Regiment on 12 October 1927 and transferred to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry two days later. He served with the regiment in India, December 1929-November 1938 rising in rank to Sergeant in April 1938. With the onset of war, he served with the B.E.F. in France, 30 September 1939-23 May 1940. Promoted to Warrant Officer Class 2 in June 1941 and appointed Acting Warrant Officer Class 1 in May 1943, his next overseas service was in North Africa with the 1st Army and in the Middle East, March 1943-February 1944. Then in Italy, he served in the operations leading to the capture of Monte Cassino, being twice slightly wounded, for which he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Military Cross. Promoted to War Substantive Warrant Officer Class 1 in May 1944, he later served with the regiment in Greece, where they were deployed in the streets of Athens in order to prevent a civil war. He returned to England in February 1946, transferred to the Army Reserve in January 1949 and received his final discharge on 22 June 1954.

Sold with Buckingham Palace forwarding slip, named to ‘Regimental Sergeant Major A. E. Narborough, M.C., The Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry’; also with copied research, including extracts from a regimental history which describes how R.S.M. Narborough helped save the rum ration at Cassino!