Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Korean War M.M. group of three awarded to Corporal Robert Lofthouse, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, attached Durham Light Infantry, for the action at Alice Springs and Surrey Hills in July 1953

MILITARY MEDAL, E.II.R., 1st type (22524254 A/Cpl., K.O.Y.L.I.); KOREA 1950 -53 (22524254 Pte., M.M., D.L.I.) this with officialcorrections to first few letters of surname, U.N. KOREA, good very fine (3)

'Corporal Lofthouse has served for eight months in Korea in a rifle company, during which time he has carried out twenty eight patrols. On all I these he has shown himself a most skilful, I resourceful and fearless leader. He has inspired the men he has led with great confidence and been able to imbue them with his own offensive fighting spirit. On one particular occasion, when with four men he comprised the reconnaissance element of an ambush sited on the saddle between the features Alice Springs and Surrey Hills, his party observed two enemy scouts crawling over the top of the hill. Corporal Lofthouse coolly ordered his men to remain quiet and to watch. The two enemy, thinking the hill unoccupied waved to their main body of ten to join them. This they did and Corporal Lofthouse, having waited patiently until they bunched, opened heavy automatic fire at close range killing five of them. The remainder fled in confusion. Corporal Lofthouse then, having first engaged a second group which was close behind the first, withdrew with no casualties to the main ambush position. As soon as he arrived, the enemy, now about thirty strong walked straight into the main ambush and fierce firefight developed. During this action Corporal Lofthouse was wounded but he coolly continued to control the fire of his group until the patrol finally withdrew. Sold with a handwritten account of this action by the recipient together with a copy of the official recommendation, copy Certificate of Service and portrait photograph.

One of only two M.M.'s to the K.O.Y.L.I. for Korea.