Auction Catalogue

2 December 2009

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 658

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2 December 2009

Hammer Price:
£1,400

A good Second World War Italy operations group of seven awarded to Colour-Sergeant E. W. Flavell, 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles (The Royal Ulster Rifles)

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6351125 Cpl. E. W. Flavell, Lond. Ir. Rif.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Coronation 1953, the first with contact marks and edge bruising, otherwise generally very fine (7)
£1600-1800

M.M. London Gazette 12 April 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘Corporal Flavell was commanding one of the sections that was giving close fire support during the attack on Casa Spinello on 23 October 1944. At about 1900 hours, after the attack had succeeded, he was wounded in the thigh. Although he had every opportunity to be evacuated to the R.A.P. he remained at his post keeping his gun firing as counter attacks were beginning to come in.

Another company with extra ammunition and grenades was ordered up to reinforce but ran into a minefield. Corporal Flavell volunteered with the help of another man to guide them round it to his own company position. This he accomplished in the dark, over rough country and under heavy enemy defensive fire. Only after this did he allow himself to be evacuated.

This N.C.O’s gallantry, devotion to duty and disregard of the fact that he was in great pain resulted in much needed men and ammunition arriving at the correct spot in time, and is worthy of the highest praise.’

The 2nd Battalion, London Irish Rifles (The Royal Ulster Rifles) landed in North Africa in late 1942 and saw much fighting in Tunisia in the following year. Subsequently engaged in Sicily, the Battalion crossed to the Italian mainland in September 1943, where, among other actions, it fought at Termoli and on the Barbara Line, was present at the crossing of the River Sangro and in the Cassino battle in the Spring of 1944. After a brief period of rest out of the line, it then rejoined the campaign in the Po Valley and fought in the battle for Argenta Gap.

Sold with original Buckingham Palace forwarding certificate for the M.M., in the name of ‘6351125 Cpl. E. W. Flavell, M.M., London Irish Rifles, The Royal Ulster Rifles’, together with Coronation Medal 1953 certificate, this in the name of ‘Colour-Sergeant E. W. Flavell, M.M., 1st Bn. London Irish Rifles.’