Auction Catalogue

17 September 1999

Starting at 12:00 PM

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Orders, Decorations and Medals

The Regus Conference Centre  12 St James Square  London  SW1Y 4RB

Lot

№ 985

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17 September 1999

Hammer Price:
£1,550

An outstanding ‘Monte Cece’ immediate award D.C.M. group of six to Sergeant D. Emery, 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, for bravery in the same action that Private Richard Burton won the regiment’s only Victoria Cross of the war

Distinguished Conduct Medal,
G.VI.R. (6019290 Sjt., D.W.R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted court style for display, nearly very fine (6) £800-1200

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEDAL SUBSEQUENTLY PROVED TO BE AN UNOFFICIALLY NAMED SPECIMEN AND WAS RETURNED TO THE AUCTIONEERS. SERGEANT EMERY"S ORIGINAL MEDALS INCLUDING A BEM ARE KNOWN TO BE EXTANT.

D.C.M. London Gazette 12 April 1945.

‘For outstanding bravery and devotion to duty during the attack on Monte Cece on the afternoon of 8th October, 1944, and during the night 8th-9th October, 1944.

For the attack on the strongly held Monte Cece feature ‘A’ Company, to which Sgt. Emery belonged, was allotted the task of capturing and holding the far right end of the summit. The going was hard, due to mud and pouring rain, and the climb from the start line to the crest extremely steep. When 20 yards from the crest the leading platoon was halted by concentrated fire from four spandaus firing from the summit, Sgt. Emery, who was acting as platoon commander, as his platoon commander had been wounded, was ordered to take his platoon through the leading platoon and assault the crest. He complied with this order immediately and with himself in the van, he led the platoon on to and over the crest, accounting for at least one spandau crew either killed or wounded who fell to his own Tommy gun. The assault was entirely successful and was in a very large part due to this N.C.O.’s outstanding dash and courage in the face of withering enemy M.G. fire. Sgt. Emery immediately reorganised and consolidated his platoon, which had suffered heavy casualties. Almost before this was completed the enemy counter-attacked with some 15-20 men. Once again Sgt. Emery immediately took up a position in front of his platoon, and although exposed to heavy enemy small arms fire, engaged the attackers with his Tommy gun and directed the fire of his platoon to such effect that the counter-attack was quickly and completely broken and the enemy withdrew leaving a number of dead and wounded.

Throughout the whole action which lasted until the early morning of 9th October, Sgt. Emery displayed not only the highest qualities of leadership and devotion to duty, but also showed an utter disregard for his own safety during a time of extreme danger. When not engaged actively in attacking and directing fire onto the enemy, Sgt. Emery was a constant source of encouragement and cheerfulness to his men, moving amongst them and directing the evacuation of the wounded.
There is no doubt that it was in a very large part due to Sgt. Emery’s conspicuous bravery that the assault on Monte Cece was a success.’

The Duke’s suffered 72 casualties during the attack on Monte Cece, of which 2 officers and 12 other ranks were killed. Private Richard Burton was awarded the Victoria Cross for his conspicuous gallantry during the attack, his citation being of a similar nature to that of Sergeant Emery. Three men were also awarded the Military Medal. Monte Cece is commemorated as a Battle Honour on the Regimental Colour.