Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War North Africa operations O.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. E. C. Fryett, Royal Artillery, who was decorated for his role as Counter Battery Officer, 8th Army, at El Alamein

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Efficiency Decoration, G.VI.R., the reverse officially dated ‘1950’, on H.A.C. riband; United States of America, Bronze Star, with its case of issue, mounted as worn, generally good very fine (8) £800-1000

O.B.E. London Gazette 14 October 1943. The original recommendation - approved by Montgomery - states:

‘Lieutenant-Colonel Fryett carried out the duties of Counter Battery Officer, both with 13 and 30 Corps, with great energy and skill during the operations which led up to the defeat of the enemy at El Alamein in November 1942. It was to a great extent due to his efforts that the Counter Battery fire was so successful.’

American Bronze Star London Gazette 17 September 1948. The original recommendation states:

‘For meritorious service in support of combat operations as Fifth Army Liaison Officer with the Royal Artillery during the period 19 January to 17 June 1944. It is due largely to Lieutenant Colonel Fryett’s tact, personality, knowledge of British and American artillery tactics and technique that the splendid co-operation and co-ordination of artillery fires of British and American artillery were so accomplished. The mutual confidence enjoyed by American and British artillery commanders is largely due to the splendid work and ceaseless efforts of this outstanding liaison officer.’

James Ernest Charles Fryett was appointed a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery (Territorials) in March 1939, initially being posted to 57th Field Regiment, R.A. However, as confirmed by accompanying documentation, he quickly obtained advancement, serving as C.C.M.A., 1 Corps, under Lieutenant-General M. Barker, with the B.E.F., in addition, presumably, to earlier attachment to 57th Field Regiment, a component of 3 Corps, under Major-General E. A. Osborne.

Interestingly, the C.O. of another Field Regiment in the latter Corps was Brigadier Sidney Kirkman, under whom Fryett served as Counter Battery Officer (C.B.O.) in North Africa - Kirkman was a friend of Montgomery, had been specially selected to command the 8th Army’s artillery in the El Alamein offensive, and would afterwards recommend Fryett for suitable recognition for his part in that momentous battle. Indeed few men carried such onerous responsibility as the C.B.O., a vital role that commenced with the famous ‘Alamein barrage’ on the night of 23-24 October 1942:

‘At the appointed second, 882 field and medium guns were to open fire, in Montgomery’s words to the author, ‘like one battery’. For this second the gunners had been preparing all day and the gunnery staffs for much longer. The fire plan created by Kirkman for the whole thirty-eight miles from the sea to Hemeimat had been allotted and sub-allotted from Army to Corps, Corps to Division, Division to Regiment and Regiment to Battery ... The storm of fire that burst was an experience never to be forgotten by those who heard it. The trumpeting of the ‘Alamein barrage’ echoes still within every man’s memory. It had not the volcanic violence of the great barrages of the First World War, such as those of Arras and Amiens, when the staccato barking of the serried ranks of field guns was fortified by the deep-throated roar of the heavy howitzers and the sharp crack of the 60-pounders, yet there was a quality in the clamourous roar that was peculiarly memorable. It had a tremendous and imperious assurance. It rang with confidence. It proclaimed itself irresistible. It told men that at last a firm hand was now directing the great orchestra with professional mastery. Everywhere men who were not engaged watched entranced at the long line of leaping gun flashes ripping open the night sky for thirty-eight miles and listened to the urgent and compelling roar, drowning out the sound of aircraft passing overhead ... ’ (Alamein, by C. E. Lucas-Phillips refers).

As cited above, Fryett went on to serve with distinction as a Liaison Officer in Italy in 1944, in the rank of Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, adding the American Bronze Star to his previous accolades - a role that no doubt led to his subsequent appointment on the British Army Staff in Washington D.C.

Sold with the recipient’s original commission warrant for the rank 2nd Lieutenant, R.A. (Territorials), dated 7 March 1939, together with three wartime identity cards, comprising his B.E.F. Officer’s Identity Card, dated 1 January 1940, as C.C.M.A., 1 Corps, his Military Identity Card as a 2nd Lieutenant based at Newhaven Fort, dated 3 July 1940, with portrait photograph, and his British Army Staff in Washington D.C. Identity Card, with portrait photograph, dated 1 August 1945; together with a quantity of military career photographs (approximately 25), mainly scenes from early T.A. days but with one or two wartime images as well.