Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Warrant Officer J. Hale, Coldstream Guards

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, these unnamed; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Bomb & Mine Clearance 1945-49 (2660802 Col. Sjt., Coldm. Gds.) very fine (5) £350-400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Coldstream Guards, R.F.C., R.N.A.S. and R.A.F. formed by the late Tom Baugh.

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John Harold Hale was born on 29 June 1916 and joined the Coldstream Guards on 3 April 1940. He landed at Salerno in September 1943 with the 3rd Battalion forming part of 201 Guards Brigade. He was Sergeant in charge of a mortar platoon and was with the first wave ashore which landed at Battipaglia. Fought up the west coast of Italy with the 5th Army and reached Florence and Pistoia before returning to the U.K. in 1944. In the U.K. he was engaged in training recruits in the use of the mortar and was promoted to Colour Sergeant in September 1945. Served one year on mine and bomb clearance work in Yorkshire, 1945-46, after which he served in Palestine. Promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class in 1946. He then served on the Canal Zone, Egypt, 1951-53; Germany, 1955-58, and Singapore, 1960. Retiring from the Army in 1963, he was then employed on security work with De Beers until his retirement in 1980.

With hand-written notes of Hale’s experiences during the Italian Campaign of 1943-44; together with copied research and photographs.