British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second World War ‘Italian operations’ M.M. group of five awarded to Serjeant G. Erskine, Royal Artillery

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (1549005 Sjt., R.A,); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, minor contact marks, good very fine (5) £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 3 August 1944.

Recommendation states: ‘Sgt. Erskine is Detachment Commander of a 40mm. sited in defence of a big ammunition dump at Mignano. At about 2200 hour on April 25th the area was shelled by a German 150mm. A small dump near the gun was set alight, and the sentry on the gun was wounded. While Sgt. Erskine was attending to the wounded man, further shelling set alight another dump beside the pit and a shed about 20 yds. away containing a large quantity of explosive. In view of the great danger Sgt. Erskine told the detachment to take cover but himself went to the pit, the sandbags of which were alight, to see if the gun could be saved. While he was there the shed blew up with a terrific explosion which threw him across the pit and burnt the back of his neck. Undeterred by this, and in spite not only of the shellfire, but of the very great danger from the large number of exploding dumps, Sgt. Erskine, having sent his detachment away mounted the tractor which was nearby, backed it, and drove it away. Sgt. Erskine’s coolness and courage not only saved a valuable vehicle but was a magnificent example to his detachment’.

At the time of his act of bravery, Serjeant Erskine was serving with 57 L.A.A. Battery, 14th L.A.A. Regiment. With copied recommendation.