Orders, Decorations and Medals

A very rare S.E. Asia 1946 operations M.M. group of five awarded to Lance-Bombardier R. C. Gerbaldi, Royal Artillery, who was wounded in an ambush but continued to operate his wireless set until it was riddled with bullets

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (1156347 L. Bmbr. R. C. Gerbaldi, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, S.E. Asia 1945-46 (1156347 Gnr. R. C. Gerbaldi, M.M., R.A.), good very fine and better (5)
£1800-2200

M.M. London Gazette 4 April 1946. The original recommendation for an immediate award states:

‘On 11 January 1946, Lance-Bombardier Gerbaldi was wireless operator to his Battery Commander who was doing a reconnaissance with the C.O. of the battalion he was supporting with a platoon of infantry in the Donas area, 10 miles west of Sourabaya. Their jeep was halted by a road block near Donas and came under heavy M.M.G. and small arms fire. Lance-Bombardier Gerbaldi was wounded in the arm and leg but remained on his wireless set refusing to take cover with his Battery Commander and other occupants. The Battery Commander and infantry C.O. were killed almost immediately but Lance-Bombardier Gerbaldi signalled back the exact location of the ambush and did not leave the set until it was riddled with bullets. As a result of getting this message back, reinforcements were sent up and succeeded in extricating the Platoon.’

Richard Charles Gerbaldi was serving in 145th Field Regiment, R.A. (Berkshire Yeomanry), at the time of the above cited deeds.