Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Second War ‘Sicily - battle for Gerbini’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Corporal R. D. Hutchison, 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), for silencing a German machine gun position which was holding up the advance during a night time attack, 19 July 1943

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (2762486 A. Cpl. R. D. Hutchison. Black Watch) minor official correction to unit; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted for wear, generally good very fine (7) £3000-3600

D.C.M. London Gazette 23 September 1943, the original recommendation (for an M.M.) states:

‘During the night advance on Gerbini on 19 July 1943, ‘C’ Coy was ordered to take up a position astride the cross-roads at Crociata Jannarello. When the leading Platoon was nearing the objective it came under heavy fire from the front, and was pinned to the ground. It was therefore necessary for the two remaining Platoons to work round and attack the enemy position from a flank. The way was however, barred by a German S.P. gun which started firing at the Coy at point-blank range.

Cpl. Hutchison, realising that the success of the operation depended on the elimination of this gun immediately went forward alone, under very heavy fire, particularly from another A.F.V. from a flank. He worked his way right up to the gun, which was being fired on by our own troops, and succeeded in throwing a grenade inside from a few feet. The burst hit and disabled the gun, and caused the gun crew to jump out, where they were dealt with by the L.M.G.s of the Coy.

The silencing of this gun was a determining factor in the success of this operation. The initiative, courage and determination of Cpl. Hutchison then, and during the rest of the operation, were of the the very highest degree, and an inspiration to all round him.’

Robert David Hutchison served during the Second War with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) as part of the Highland Division. He landed with the Battalion on Sicily, 10 July 1943, and advanced from the southernmost tip of the island:

‘The advance now debouched from the hills into the Catanian Plain, which stretched north of the slopes about Mount Etna, and east to the sea. The Highland Division, however, operated along its western edge, where it touched the central mountains of Sicily. Rivers from the hills cut across their passage, offering good defensive positions, but the Highland Division drove on without halt until they came to Gerbini. ‘Emboldened by the speed at which we had gone forward,’ Wimberley wrote, ‘we were now too hasty, and took rather a bloody nose.’

The strength of the defences was badly underestimated, and for three nights and two days, Rennie’s brigade of the 7th Argylls and 1st and 7th Black Watch battled to capture a bewildering complex of roads and railway. The greatest success fell to the 7th Black Watch who passed through the German lines under cover of night, and took up position round the Gerbini airfield. At dawn, the Jocks heard all round them the unsuspecting noises of an army waking up, which quickly turned into hostile machine-gun fire and clattering tank manoeuvres. While they fended off their enemy, the 1st Battalion and the Argylls fought two dogged but unsuccessful battles to take the station and barracks.....

Eventually, Montgomery decided to switch the whole direction of the attack to the west, and all three battalions were withdrawn from Gerbini, the 7th returning in the same light-footed way in which it had advanced, through the ranks of its enemies.’ (The Black Watch, The History of the Royal Highland Regiment, by E. and A. Linklater, refers)