Orders, Decorations and Medals

Six: Private C. O’Gorman, 1st (Airborne) Battalion, the Border Regiment (A.A.C.), who was present at Arnhem

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya (3606318 Pte., A.A.C.), good very fine (6) £1200-1500

As part of the 1st Air-Landing Brigade, 1st (Airborne) Battalion, the Border Regiment first went into action at Sicily, but, as a result of mistimed glider cast-offs and other errors, only around 200 of its men actually reached the Island. Returning home from Italy at the end of 1943, the Battalion was based at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, but in the weeks leading up to operation “Market Garden”, it was re-billetted at Burford, Oxfordshire. Having then arrived in Horsa gliders on Landing Zone ‘S’ - just north of the Amsterdam to Arnhem railway line - on 17 September 1944, the 1st Borders encountered bitter opposition over the coming days, well over 100 of its men being killed in action, and many more wounded or taken P.O.W. Luckily for O’Gorman, who would have ended up on the western side of the Oosterbeek perimeter, he was among those who made it back over the Rhine on the 25th; sold with copied entry from regimental Arnhem roll.