Orders, Decorations and Medals

An Immediate Second War M.M. group of seven to Sapper D. J. Kleinhans, South African Engineering Corps

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (194160 V. Spr., S.A.E.C.) all but last two letters of surname officially reimpressed; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal, all officially named South African issues, mounted court style as worn; together with South African Engineering Corps cap badge and cloth shoulder title, good very fine or better (7) £200-300

M.M. London Gazette 23 August 1945 (Italy). Recommendation states ‘For outstanding courage and devotion to duty on the night of 15 April 1945. Sapper Kleinhans drove a bulldozer from point 501 MR L781275 to Gasaglia MR L787285. This track was to provide vital communications to the infantry objectives. Sapper Kleinhans drove his bulldozer as the spear head of this operation and was at times only fifty yards behind our own artillery barrage. Even though his bulldozer could be clearly heard by the enemy and very easily distinguished by the flashes from its exhaust, Sapper Kleinhans continued his task undaunted.

This area was known to be heavily mined and was harassed by enemy mortar and small arms fire which could not be heard by Sapper Kleinhans. He continued his task with determination, never thinking of his personal safety. Due to his courage and devotion to duty the road was completed in record time and proved a vital supply line to the infantry later.’ (With 12 pages of copied service papers).