The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

A Second World War B.E.F. 1940 operations M.M. group of three awarded to Private F. Wilson, Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps, who hand carried a time fused UXB into a field in order to save potential loss of life

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (13006518 Pte., Pioneer Corps); 1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45, the first with contact wear overall, nearly very fine, the others extremely fine (3) £1000-1200

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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M.M. London Gazette 20 December 1940. The original recommendation - submitted by Lieutenant-Colonel D. J. Dean, V.C. - states:

‘On 21 May 1940 at Lievin, south-west of Lens, northern France, after an enemy raid, a small unexploded (H.E.) bomb was found in the village street - there was a constant stream of refugees passing down this street. Privates Wilson and Kearns volunteered to remove the bomb. They tossed a coin and Private Wilson won the toss. He picked up the bomb, carried it across the street, through a barbed wire fence, and across a field, throwing it in a ditch. Private Wilson was very frightened and he expected to be blown up at any moment.’

Dean’s recommendation was submitted on the back of an eye-witness report written by Captain H. J. A. Rea, from which the following extract is taken:

‘A force of about 30 German bombers had carried out a raid on Lievin and dropped several bombs. Immediately afterwards I noticed an unexploded Time Fuse Bomb in the middle of the street - I immediately stopped the stream of refugees and I was examining the bomb and considering what to do with it when two Pioneers from 76 Company passed and volunteered to remove it. They were Privates Wilson and Cairns. They tossed a coin and Private Wilson won the toss. He picked up the bomb and carried it across the street, under a barbed wire fence while a Lance-Corporal of the Company lifted the wire, and across a field for approximately 100 yards and threw it into a ditch and returned. He fully realised what he was doing and he was shaking all over when he returned to me. I gave him a drink of Brandy.’

Fred Wilson, who was born in Pontefract in May 1907, served in 76 Company, Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps out in France from March-June 1940 and was discharged as a result of ill-health in July 1941. He received his decoration from the King at Buckingham Palace in September 1942.