Auction Catalogue

25 September 2008

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1676

.

25 September 2008

Estimate: £1,800–£2,200

A fine Second World War M.B.E., battle of El Alamein M.C. group of six awarded to Acting Major K. M. Paton, Gordon Highlanders, who was decorated for holding out for 48 hours in an exposed position on “Kidney Ridge” during the advance on “Aberdeen” - his positions ‘being plastered by shells, mortar bombs and streams of machine-gun bullets’

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 2nd type breast badge; Military Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1943’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, these last four in their original addressed card forwarding box, extremely fine (6) £1800-2200

M.B.E. London Gazette 13 December 1945.

M.C.
London Gazette 4 May 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘On the night of 24-25 October 1942, at the battle of Alamein, Captain Paton, as Second-in-Command of ‘D’ Company, 1st Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders, was ordered at 0300 hours to take a patrol of one platoon up to a position 1,000 yards forward which adjoined the position held by the Rifle Brigade.

Captain Paton set off with No. 18 Platoon under Lieutenant Midgley. The objective was reached whereupon, as soon as dawn broke, he and his men were subjected to heavy and accurate enemy small arms and mortar fire.

It was impossible to reach the position in daylight and despite a number of casualties, Captain Paton kept up morale on an extremely high level and maintained control of his men; in fact he proved himself in complete control of the situation.

For 48 hours they remained in this exposed position, maintaining their hold on the ridge during which time a tank battle raged over their heads.

Captain Paton’s determination and wise leadership were entirely responsible for the few casualties that were sustained, in addition to which he was constantly keeping Battalion H.Q. up to date with vital information.’

Kenneth McLaren Paton was awarded his M.C. in respect of his Battalion’s advance on the “Aberdeen” feature, an advance that was stalled within about a mile of the objective - thus his remarkable 48 hour stand, an action that rightly receives extended coverage in C. E. Lucas Phillips’ definitive history
Alamein. On his flanks Paton had a platoon of the Middlesex Regiment and an armoured column of the London Rifle Brigade, the latter fortuitously equipped with some 6-pounders - ‘Thus the Jocks had Cockneys to right and to left of them’. Lucas Phillips continues:

‘The ground was solid rock and by first light on the 25th few of the trenches were more than a foot deep ... Daylight found them in full view of the enemy and their positions were soon being “plastered” by shells, mortar bombs and streams of machine-gun bullets. They could see little of the enemy in his dug-in positions, but vigorously engaged any target offered, though thereby revealing their positions. Two machine-gun detachments of the Riflemen were picked off man by man, one of whom had his head taken off by an anti-tank shot ... The wounded of all units endured severe trials of fortitude, lying in shallow slits in the rock under the blazing sun, scourged by flies.’

An attempt was made to relieve Paton, but ‘though the distance was not more than 400 yards, the attempt failed’, a good number of ‘B’ Company falling victim to heavy and accurate enemy machine-gun fire:

‘Unaware of these misadventures, Paton’s small force hung on expectantly. As the second night came on, they rose with relief from their cramped slits, did what little they could for the wounded, improved their diggings and serviced their weapons ... When no relief or reinforcements came, the Jocks and the Cockneys accepted the situation with stoic cheerfulness. The idea of withdrawing entered no-one’s head ... [but when] ... the second day, the 26th, dawned, at once both sides were in action again. Another of Wigan’s [London Rifle Brigade] guns was knocked out. The wounded of both units were grievously in need of evacuation and his own men faint from lack of water and food. Towards noon he decided that some action would have to be taken if his men were to survive. He discussed the situation with Paton in a nearby scrape and they decided that someone must attempt to get back to the Battalion.’

And thanks to the bravery of a Lance-Corporal in the Rifles, that urgent message for assistance was finally delivered to Battalion H.Q., but by the time the remainder of 1st Gordons got through, the tide of battle had turned, the enemy garrison on “Aberdeen” having taken serious punishment from our artillery - indeed the Germans surrendered to the Gordons later that day, a unit now commanded by its fourth C.O. within a week, such had been the ferocity of earlier engagements.

From November 1943 until April 1945, Paton was Camp Commandant of the 8th Army’s rear echelon, an appointment that he held throughout the Italian campaign and one which led to his award of the M.B.E. and a brace of “mentions”.

Sold with the recipient’s original M.I.D. certificates, dated 25 March 1944 and 19 July 1945.