Orders, Decorations and Medals

A North Africa M.M. group of four awarded to Lance-Corporal C. Cheetham, Royal Engineers, for gallantry during an air raid when his arm was blown off

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2004750 L.Cpl., R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal, together with original photograph of Cheetham outside Buckingham Palace with his M.M., extremely fine (4) £450-550

M.M. London Gazette 23 September 1943. The following details are taken from the original recommendation: ‘Courageous behaviour and devotion to duty in extinguishing incendiary bombs on the occasion of a heavy raid on Bone, when enemy planes were dive bombing an enclosure containing motor vehicles and an explosives dump on the night 13/14 December 1942.’

Attached to this recommendation is the much longer eye-witness statement made by his commanding officer at the time, in which he states: ‘... They threw themselves to the ground as the bomb hit and exploded about 25 yards away. A/L/Cpl. Cheetham had his entire left arm blown off but Driver Bradley escaped injury. A/L/Cpl. Cheetham, accompanied by Driver Bradley, walked across the Park to his tent and lay down. Driver Bradley, after attending to him, ran for assistance while the raid continued and finally drove the truck which conveyed the wounded man to the Dressing Station. The wounded man, fully conscious all the time, was helpful on being removed and never complained. These men had been through the heavy raids to which Bone had been subjected for many nights and they knew well the dangers they were facing.’