Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: attributed to Sergeant G. F. Macdonald, Royal Artillery, late Royal Sussex Regiment

1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 1st Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf; Poland, Cross of Valour, all unnamed, mounted as worn, very fine (6) £80-100

George Fraser MacDonald was born in Sidley, near Bexhill on 17 July 1903. He served in the Royal Artillery (T.A.) from 20 May 1920 before enlisting into the Royal Sussex Regiment at Chichester on 23 November 1920. With them he served in the Army of the Rhine, February-April 1921; Malta, April-September 1922; Constantinople, September 1922-August 1923; Malta, August-September 1923; and Singapore, September 1923-April 1926. He was transferred to the Reserve in November 1927 and discharged on 22 November 1932. Employed as a Bus Conductor, he re-enlisted into the Royal Artillery at Hastings on 14 October 1939. Promoted to Sergeant in September 1942. Awarded the Polish Cross of Valour, 14 May 1945 and mentioned in despatches for services in Italy (London Gazette 19 July 1945; corrected 1 November 1945). Discharged on 29 October 1945.

With Territorial Force Attestation Paper, 1920 (badly damaged); Discharge Certificate, 1920; Attestation Paper, November 1920 (badly damaged); Second Class Certificate of Education, 1921; Regular Army Certificate of Service (1920-32); Attestation Paper, 1939; Soldiers’ Service and Pay Book (1939-45); Record of Service; letters (2) re the award of the M.I.D. The award of the Polish Cross of Valour is recorded in his Soldiers’ Service and Pay Book.