Orders, Decorations and Medals

An exceptional Second World War ‘Western Desert’ M.C. and Bar group of five awarded to Major C. A. Halliday, 11th Hussars, subsequently taken prisoner of war

Military Cross, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1940’, with Second Award Bar, the reverse officially dated ‘1941’; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; War Medal; Efficiency Medal, Territorial, G.VI.R., 2nd issue, with long service bar (Lt. (M.C.) 11-H.) mounted as worn, together with companion set of miniatures, two ribbon bars, and forwarding letter for Efficiency Medal, nearly extremely fine (10) £2000-2500

See Colour Plate IV

M.C. London Gazette 30 July 1940. The recommendation states: ‘2/Lieut. Corrie Alexander Halliday, 11th Hussars, with his troop was left in observation West of Bardia and East of Sidi Azeiz late in the afternoon of 14th June, 1940. He observed a column of 23 light tanks and some lorries going from Bardia to Sidi Azeiz. He advanced to try and capture a lorry but 8 light tanks detached themselves and attacked him. 2/Lieut. Halliday’s troop engaged the enemy, knocked out one tank and caused the others to withdraw. By his boldness, dash and skill in engaging with his armoured cars a much larger force of enemy light tanks 2/Lieut. Halliday gave great encouragement to his men and gained information which proved of much value in subsequent operations.’

Bar to M.C. London Gazette 5 February 1941. The recommendation states: ‘On December 9th (1940), 2/Lt. Halliday’s troop attacked enemy in their position near Alam El Hamid and captured 400 prisoners.
On December 11th he was ordered to get to a position close to the Buq Buq-Sollum road and prevent any enemy retirement. Upon arriving there he quickly got into action against a large column retiring. He inflicted many casualties and took a large number of prisoners including a party which brought up some lorries and were getting 2 Breda A/T guns into action, but the crews were killed by his prompt action. During this very large numbers of enemy had, and were still retiring down the road, all fully armed and in reasonably good order. Many others had broken off the road Northwards. 2/Lt. Halliday took his troop parallel to the road and after some 6 or 7 miles and when nearing the enemy’s defences of Halfaya, got to the head of the enemy column, which he succeeded in halting. Through great boldness of action, determination and courage he defeated this very large column and put out of action infantry, lorries and 3 light tanks and succeeded in disarming them and getting them back along the road to his original position. Here more large numbers of enemy, still armed, were trying to retire Westwards and break off the road Northwards. This retirement was also checked and controlled, many more hundreds of enemy were captured and disarmed due to 2/Lt. Halliday, who necessarily had to dismount from his car and collect officers from amongst the enemy at very considerable personal danger, indeed some shots were fired. The action of 2/Lt. Halliday’s troop undoubtedly turned a retirement into a rout and succeeded in preventing all except a few enemy getting away. By his boldness, resource, personal example and bravery, 3-4,000 prisoners and much war material were captured and escorted back over a distance of miles in the dark without loss, all due to 2/Lt. Halliday.’

2nd Lieutenant Halliday was subsequently taken prisoner and imprisoned in Oflag 79 at Braunschweig.

See also Lot 928 for related family groups.