Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Lieutenant W. D. T. Phillips, South African Armoured Corps, attached Royal Marines, who served with 41 Royal Marine Commando as part of the 4th Special Service brigade which landed at Normandy on D-Day, and was wounded in France the following month

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all officially named ‘110448 W. D. T. Phillips’, very fine (5) £180-220

William David Trevor Phillips was born in East London, South Africa, on 30 April 1916, and attested for the 6th Mounted Regiment on 13 June 1940. He was promoted Corporal on 15 August 1940, and transferred with the rank of Sergeant to the 10th Armoured Car Commando, South African Armoured Corps, on 20 April 1941. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 6th Armoured Division, Middle Eastern Forces on 21 August 1943, he was seconded to the Royal Marines on 27 December 1943, and posted to the Portsmouth Division. Promoted temporary Lieutenant early in the new year, he is recorded as having sustained a shell wound to his left arm and thigh on 21 February 1944 whilst on active service. Recovering from his wounds, he was posted to 41 Royal Marine Commando on 26 April 1944. He served with the Royal Marines in France, Belgium, and Holland from June 1944, where his unit was part of the 4th Special Service Brigade that landed at Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944, and took part in the capture of Douvres Radar Station on 17 June. Phillips himself was wounded in France the following month. Returning to England in October 1944, he transferred to 40 Royal Marine Commando, as part of the 2nd Commando Brigade, and served with them in Italy from February until June 1945. He was discharged on 8 October 1945.

Sold with a large file of copied research.

Note: Only 406 France and Germany Stars were issued to South Africans, of which just 34 were issued to South Africans seconded to the Royal Marines, all of whom would also have been entitled to the Africa Service Medal.