The Collection of Medals formed by Dr A W Stott

A Chindit M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant Harrold Bottomley, Commando Platoon, 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers
Military Medal, G.VI.R. (3451647 Sjt. H. Bottomley, Lan. Fus.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, good very fine (5)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals Formed By Dr A W Stott.

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M.M. London Gazette 26 April 1945.

‘Sgt Bottomley was Platoon Sergeant of the Commando platoon which held an important position. The Platoon position was under constant artillery and mortar fire and received mortar attacks for thirteen nights. During this time, Sgt Bottomley kept his section in constant supply of ammunition and attended to casualties. This task was made extremely difficult as there was not a vestige of cover on the whole position.

In particular, on the night 13 April when the enemy put in a very strong attack, knocking out 3 L.M.G. bunker positions, Sgt Bottomley by his immediate grasp of the situation extricated the weapons and wounded men, re-sited the guns and kept the platoon in action during a very critical time. After this he returned to the damaged bunkers and attended to the wounded men.’

Sergeant Harold Bottomley served with Wingate’s famous Chindits in Burma and won the Military Medal with the Commando Platoon of the Lancashire Fusiliers. The Platoon Commander was Captain George Butler, ex Royal Hussars, and the Commando platoon was made up of three sections Lancashire Fusiliers, one section Royal Engineers, and one section of West Africans. The action took place at Henu, near Maulu, North Burma, on 13 April 1944. Sergeant Bottomly died in November 1993. The group is accompanied by further details and correspondence from the recipient.