Orders, Decorations and Medals

Three: Warrant Officer Class 3 A. Haggart, Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was killed in action with the B.E.F. in May 1940

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (5333646 Cpl., R. Berks. R.; 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, edge nicks and minor official correction to number on the first, otherwise extremely fine (3) £180-220

Arthur Haggart was killed in action in France on 25 May 1940, while serving in the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment. On this date, the Battalion retreated in two separate columns, the one directed to Guarbecque via St. Venant running into serious opposition as it tried to cross the Lys - ‘German artillery opened a heavy fire, and several casualties at once ensued, among them Captain E. S. Hall, killed. As the companies advanced towards Guarbecque heavy machine-gun fire directed from a factory south of the Aire Canal prevented further lateral movement without the weight and range that could only come from artillery support. This was not available’ (Gordon Blight’s History of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, 1920-47 refers). Haggart was 27 years of age, has no known grave and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.