Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Second World War Italy operations D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Captain H. A. Warner, Royal Artillery: microphone in one hand and revolver in the other, he gave a running commentary by radio back to his guns - as his Observation Post in a farm house was surrounded by overwhelming enemy forces

Distinguished Service Order, G.VI.R., 1st issue, in silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse of the suspension bar officially dated ‘1945’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Efficiency Decoration, E.II.R., Territorial, with Second Award Bar, the reverses of the Decoration and Bar officially dated ‘1959’, mounted as worn, good very fine (7) £1800-2200

D.S.O. London Gazette 24 May 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘On 8-9 December 1944, Captain Warner was manning an Observation Post at Rinaldina, south-west of Faenza. The farm was held by two sections of infantry. The nearest other British troops were about 400 yards away. Throughout the 8th, the farm was heavily shelled, receiving many direct hits, and the infantry wireless set was put out of action.

Early on the 9th, the enemy put in a heavy counter-attack along the whole front south-west of Faenza and the farm was subjected to continuous shelling, and any movement outside drew heavy machine-gun fire, and all windows were engaged frequently. Throughout the morning, Captain Warner directed the fire of the Regiment on to repeated counter-attacks, though the least movement drew further fire, and succeeded in breaking several attacks.

Later in the day, the enemy succeeded in working a tank round behind the farm, and in getting considerable numbers of infantry, unobserved, into the dead ground in the valley just in front. About 1500 hours, approximately 30 enemy appeared out of the valley, about 100 yards from the farm and too close to be engaged by medium artillery, and put in a determined attack. Captain Warner took charge of the two infantry sections, who were tired after 36 hours almost continuous shelling, and succeeded by small arms fire in halting the attackers and driving them to cover. The farm was by this time completely surrounded. The enemy then brought up a Bazooka and tried to cover a further assault by engaging the house with it. This was also repelled by small arms fire, and then the enemy again drew off to cover.

Throughout the action, Captain Warner kept his battery and representative with Brigade informed of the situation, and as he knew our tanks were near, asked for tank support. This was not forthcoming, but Captain Warner succeeded in so keeping up the spirits of his small garrison that a further attack at last light was also driven off. After dark, Captain Warner took out a patrol to investigate and found that the enemy had given up their attempts to take the farm, and had withdrawn, leaving behind two dead and one seriously wounded officer.

Captain Warner’s courage, determination and personal example, undoubtedly prevented a vital point in our position being overrun and contributed in a very great measure to the complete defeat of all counter-attacks on that section of the front.

A captured German operation order proves that the area of Rinaldina was considered to be one of greatest importance. Captain Warner, during the whole of the time his Observation Post was subjected to attack, set a fine example to all ranks and by his courage and outstanding devotion to duty, frustrated all attempts by the enemy to capture his post.’

Henry Alfred “Harry” Warner was a captain of Ipswich Rugby Football Club and the Naiad Rowing Club, and a pre-war Territorial in the 58th (Suffolk) Medium Regiment, R.A., who was called-up on the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939. Posted to 229 Medium Battery, he served with the B.E.F. and was lucky to be evacuated from Dunkirk, presumably having been among those members of his unit who famously elected to use German propaganda leaflets as lavatory paper.

Posted to the Middle East in 1942, he witnessed further action in North Africa and was mentioned in despatches in for his gallant and distinguished services in that theatre of war (London Gazette 23 September 1943 refers), and was awarded his immediate D.S.O. for the above cited deeds in Italy in December 1944 - a rare distinction indeed for one so junior in rank. A colourful account of the action, written by the war correspondent Maurice Watts, was subsequently published in The Daily Sketch:

‘In the farmhouse O.P. a few men of the K.O.Y.L.I., dog tired after 36 hours of hard fighting, were waiting with the gunners’ Captain, H.A. Warner of Ipswich and Reading, Signaller F.W. Burge, of Manchester, and Lance-Bombardier G. Davenport, of Congleton.

After shelling the farm all night, the Germans appeared in force over the hill crest at the other side of the valley. Calling up his guns on the radio, Captain Warner was able to tell them that the Germans had been well brassed off. He had hardly reported this fact before the Germans began to shell the farm again, and down went the aerial. Burge climbed out of a window to fix it up again.

Round about noon, a mist began to settle in the valley. The Captain suspected that the Germans would try to move up on him through the mist. Called up to take a look, one of our observation planes circled slowly right down in the valley, but he could not see clearly either.

What the Captain suspected proved to be correct. Just after three o’clock, about 30 Germans came up out of the mist and closed in on the farm. All hands sprung to action. Between firing bursts through the window with his pistol, the Captain grabbed his hand microphone and gave the helpless listeners, back at the guns, a graphic running commentary on the fight. It raged fast and furious for about 15 minutes. Then the Germans went back.

Fifteen minutes or so later they reappeared – this time with a bazooka. Apparently they were determined to knock that house down piece by piece. Once again the Captain gave a running commentary on the fight. Then all went silent. Everyone back at the guns thought it was the end. But it was only the aerial shot away again. Signaller Burge climbed out through his window and fixed it and the running commentary was resumed.

A couple of grenades were lobbed in through a window but no one was hurt, and no Germans got into the house, and eventually they withdrew. They put down another artillery concentration on the farm and waited until the last light of day. They then came in, as they thought, for the kill. This time there were Germans everywhere but inside the house. They were behind carts, dodging round haystacks firing from slit trenches, climbing over the roofs of barns.

To the people listening in on the radio a few miles away, the fight seemed hopeless. This time the O.P. must surely be over-run. But it wasn’t. The little garrison held out. All went quiet. Captain Warner decided to have a look-see and took out a small party of the K.O.Y.L.I.s on a reconnaissance.

The Germans had gone and this time they did not come back.’

Warner, who received his D.S.O. at a Buckingham Palace investiture in July 1947, remained in the Territorial Army after the War, and was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration and Bar (London Gazette 15 May 1959 refers). He finally relinquished his commission as a Captain in October 1963 and later served as a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant in Suffolk.

Sold with the recipient’s original D.S.O. warrant, dated 24 May 1945, a studio portrait photograph, a wartime carbon copy of his D.S.O. recommendation, and signed congratulatory note from his C.O., together with a selection of wartime newspapers and cuttings regarding the same action; and his original certificate of appointment as Deputy Lieutenant to Suffolk, dated 15 May 1968.