Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War Operation “Diver” B.E.M. group of four awarded to Sergeant W. Street, Royal Artillery, whose battery took a direct hit from a ‘flying bomb’ in November 1944: mercifully the warhead did not explode but burning fuel caused several casualties - he plunged into his battery’s blazing ammunition shelter, where he smothered a comrade’s burning battle dress by enveloping him in his own greatcoat

British Empire Medal, G.VI.R., Military Division (1073615 Sgt. Reginald J. Street, R.A.); Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (1073615 Sjt. R. J. Street, R.A.), good very fine and better (4) £700-900

B.E.M. London Gazette 2 February 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘During an action against flying bombs on 5 November 1944, Sergeant Street, as No. 1 of No. 3 Gun, continued to engage a flying bomb until the last possible moment, when he ordered his detachment to take cover. No sooner had they done this than the flying bomb made a direct hit on his gun. Sergeant Street’s immediate thought was for the safety of his men and seeing Gunner Cook running about covered in burning oil he, with complete disregard for his own personal safety, plunged through a blazing ammunition shelter and pushed aside Gunner Chamberlain, who was endeavouring to beat out Cook’s clothes with his bare hands; he clasped the latter to him and enveloped him in his own greatcoat and succeeded in beating out the flames, thus saving Gunner Cook’s life. His outstanding courage and heroism was a splendid example to all concerned.’

Reginald James Street was serving in 424/138 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, R.A., at Aldeburgh, Suffolk, at the time of the above cited deeds in November 1944. Of events on the 5th, the unit’s war diary states:

‘1 Diver engaged. Rounds fired 31 BONZO. 1 Cat. ‘B’ claim. This target was hit and set on fire coming in from the sea zero feet it struck No. 3 gun at site S7 and broke up. The warhead did not explode. The fuel compartment was damaged and burning petrol was spread over a large area. Casualties were 1 severe burns, 3 slight burns.’

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; sold with copied research.