Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Second World War “Operation Diver” B.E.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant W. H. J. Webb, Royal Artillery

British Empire Medal, (Military) G.VI.R., 1st issue (1616735 Sgt. William H. J. Webb, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, the first with contact marks, otherwise generally very fine or better (5) £300-350

B.E.M. London Gazette 10 April 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘This N.C.O. has carried out his duties with 457 Battery during the Diver deployment with the utmost zeal and cheerfulness. During the rush periods of moves, and under the most trying conditions, Sergeant Webb has by his cheerfulness and hard work been an example to all, and he has shown most marked powers of leadership, inspiring his men to the greatest possible effort.’

William Henry John Webb was serving in 457 Battery, 132 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, R.A., at the time of the above cited deeds in the period October 1944 to January 1945.

The arrival of the Signal Corps Radio (S.C.R.) 584 Radar System with automatic gun-laying at Anti-Aircraft Command in June 1944, as part of the belt of defences designed to combat the V1 and V2 flying bomb offensive in South-East England, set in motion the overall anti-V-weapon initiative, “Operation Diver.” At that time, 17% of flying bombs entering the ‘gun belt’ were destroyed but by the end of August the success rate had risen to 82% - thus a rate of one V-1 destroyed for 2,500 shells fired became one V.1 for every hundred.