Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Northern Ireland B.E.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant R. Worthy, The Queen’s Regiment, formerly The Buffs

British Empire Medal, E.II.R. (Military) for Meritorious Service (23534329 Sgt., The Queen’s Regt.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Arabian Peninsula (23534329 Pte., Buffs); General Service 1962, 2 clasps, Borneo, Northern Ireland (23534329 Sgt., Queen’s Own Buffs); Regular Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue (23534329 S.Sgt., BEM, Queens) nearly extremely fine (4) £900-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brett Collection of Medals to The Buffs.

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B.E.M. London Gazette 1 January 1971. The following extracts are taken from the official recommendation for the award:

‘In the absence of an officer, Sgt. Worthy commanded the battalion mortar platoon on protracted and arduous internal security operations in Belfast from October 1969 until Christmas, and from April until the present date. In between he acted as platoon sergeant. In both capacities he has displayed coolness, courage, steadiness and initiative far greater than is to be expected from an NCO of his rank and service.

He was leading the platoon at the Shankill Road shooting in October when it came under fire and two men received gunshot wounds. It was entirely due to his coolness and fine leadership that they were quickly and successfully evacuated, and that the platoon completed its mission without further casualties.

His outstanding personal courage and determination were again seen on the night of 3 April when the platoon was faced with a vicious crowd of over 200 rioters at Ballymurphy. The platoon was deployed as rearguard with orders to hold the crowd back while the company strove to advance towards a dominating piece of high ground. The rioters were on all sides of the company and the platoon had to fight a rearguard action while under constant petrol bomb and missile attack. Although in the darkness and confusion he did not know what was happening to the remainder of the company, Sgt. Worthy fought a successful rearguard action for over two hours under constant pressure, and it was entirely due to his efforts that the crowd was contained and the company able to reach its objective.

His platoon had been in action in the Springfield area the night before and were subsequently in action in the ‘Bone’ area for a further two days and nights. During the entire period of ninety-six strenuous hours in which they faced considerable danger with little respite, it was Sgt. Worthy’s magnificent example, steadiness and courage which sustained the platoon’s high morale and brought them through with negligible casualties.’

A superb modern group which encompasses the amalgamation of The Buffs with the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment in 1961, to form the Queen’s Own Buffs, The Royal Kent Regiment. This in turn amalgamated in 1966 with The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, The Royal Sussex Regiment and The Middlesex Regiment, to form The Queen’s Regiment. Sold with original Ministry of Defence citation and a contemporary news cutting from the South Yorkshire Times announcing the award of a ‘Bravery medal for Woodhouse Sgt. in Ireland.’