Auction Catalogue

24 & 25 June 2009

Starting at 2:00 PM

.

Orders, Decorations and Medals

Washington Mayfair Hotel  London  W1J 5HE

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Lot

№ 1057

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25 June 2009

Hammer Price:
£1,100

A good Second World War North Africa operations M.M. group of seven awarded to Acting Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant J. Silver, Royal Artillery

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (808795 A./B.Q.M. Sjt. J. Silver, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oakleaf, mounted as worn, generally extremely fine (7)
£1000-1200

M.M. London Gazette 26 August 1943. The original recommendation for an immediate award - approved by Montgomery - states:
‘On 21 April 1943, near Djebel Garci, Sergeant Silver was second-in-command of a Troop of Anti-Tank guns, under the command of a Battalion of French troops. Owing to differing tactical doctrines and language difficulties, this Troop was in action in the open in full view of the enemy and came under very heavy and accurate fire from field guns and mortars.
An N.C.O. standing close by was seriously wounded in the stomach by a very near shell burst. Realising the necessity for immediate evacuation if the man’s life was to be saved, Sergeant Silver immediately gave him what aid he could and put him in his truck. The nearest way to his Battery H.Q. was across a known minefield and Sergeant Silver personally drove his truck without a moment’s hesitation straight across this minefield, although it was by now swept by M.G. fire.
Having arranged for immediate attention for the wounded man, Sergeant Silver again crossed the bullet swept zone and returned to his Troop, spending the rest of the day moving about fearlessly among the guns, encouraging the men and doing everything possible to minimize casualties and damage to equipment.
His rapid decision and great courage were largely responsible for saving the wounded man’s life, while his great coolness under fire, and initiative and resource throughout the day, were an outstanding example to his men, and contributed very largely to the comparatively small numbers of casualties sustained.’

Mention in despatches London Gazette 13 January 1944.

Jack Silver was serving in 196 Battery, 73rd Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A. at the time of the above cited deeds.