Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Birks Memorial Bar (Pte. W. S. Ducker, M.M., 1 Cdn. Para Bn. Died in his Country’s Service 19 June 1944), mounted in card folder, folder damaged, bar extremely fine £100-140

M.M. London Gazette 31 August 1944. ‘No. B3047 Private William Skirving Ducker, 1 Canadian Parachute Battalion (since died of wounds)’.

Recommendation states: ‘This solder was a medical orderly attached to C Company during the action at Varaville on 6th June 1944. The Company Commander, a Platoon Commander and 2 other ranks were in a building being heavily engaged by an anti-tank gun and mortar. A direct hit caused all four to become casualties. Private Ducker with absolute disregard for his own safety under heavy machine gun and mortar fire went to this building which was still under heavy fire gave medical attention to the Company Commander and ascertained that the others were dead or beyond medical aid before removing the Company Commander to a place of safety which was also under heavy fire’.

B/3047 Private William Skirving Ducker, 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, R.C.I.C., was killed in action, 19 June 1944. He was buried in the Hermanville War Cemetery, France.