Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An ‘Anzio Beachhead 1944’ M.M. group of five awarded to Sergeant W.A. Powell, 9th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, who was decorated for his ‘initiative and quick action’ when leading a fighting patrol into an enemy position where he ‘personally shot and killed one German and sent another back as prisoner’ before charging an enemy trench single handedly capturing a further two prisoners; he was later killed in action during heavy fighting on the Gustav Line in September 1944

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (5122445 A. Sjt. W. A. Powell. R.Fus.) mounted on original investiture pin; 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; War Medal, extremely fine (5) £1600-2000

M.M. London Gazette 15 June 1944: ‘For gallant and distinguished services in Italy.’

The recommendation for an Immediate M.M. states:

‘On the afternoon of 27 February, in the ANZIO Beachhead, Sgt. Powell was a member of a small fighting patrol sent out to locate and deal with an enemy post in front of C Company's position. The Officer in charge was wounded shortly after he started out but Sgt. Powell continued to lead the patrol forward, right into the enemy position. He then personally shot and killed one German, and sent another back as prisoner and went on again himself to search the area covered by his patrol with a Bren Machine Gun. He found two more Germans in a trench, and rushed them before they could oppose him, taking them prisoner, and searched the rest of the area for more before returning with his patrol. Sgt. Powell's initiative and quick action in a difficult daylight patrol was a fine example to his men, and resulted in obtaining valuable information, apart from clearing up a troublesome German position.’

William Arthur Powell, from Aberbeeg, Monmouthshire, was born on 31 July 1919, at Newport, South Wales, and travelled to England probably for work before enlisting into the 11th (Royal Militia Island of Jersey) Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, on 8 January 1942. On 25 April of the same year he married Betty Mary Hodge of Farnham, Surrey and was shortly thereafter one of a draft of R.M.I.J. men transferred to the 9th Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, of the 56th (London) Division on 26 August 1942, the day of their departure for the Middle East.

The Division disembarked at Basra, Iraq, and travelled by rail to Kirkuk where they began preparing defences against an expected invasion of Iran and Iraq by German forces from the Caucasus. By late 1942 the German advance into Russia had been halted at Stalingrad, Rommel's Afrika Korps defeated at El Alamein, a combined US/British force landed in Tunisia and the threat against the oil fields of Iran and Iraq removed. After a 3,000 mile journey from Iraq to Tunisia, the Division was taken on strength of the 8th Army on 24 April 1943, just in time to qualify for the “8th Army” clasp to the Africa Star before taking part in the final battles of the North African campaign.

Powell participated in the amphibious landings at Salerno on 9 September and the hard fighting inland where he was wounded in action on 4 December 1943. 9th Royal Fusiliers took part in the first assault on Monte Cassino in January 1944, before being transferred to the Anzio beachhead in mid February.

In late 1944 an article was published in the local Farnham newspaper:

“NEWS OF OUR MEN: SERGEANT POWELL MISSING. Official news has been received by Mrs. Powell, of “Northway,’ Bridgefield, Farnham, that her husband Sergeant William Arthur Powell, M.M., of the Royal Fusiliers, is reported missing while fighting in Italy. Sergt. Powell, who has been in the army for three years, has served in S. Africa and Tunisia and took part in the landing at the Anzio beach-head. He is the only son of Mr. And Mrs. W. Powell, of Aberbeeg, Mon., and was married at Farnham Parish Church two years ago to Miss Betty Hodge, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. L.J.W. Hodge. The Military Medal was awarded to Sergt. Powell earlier this year for his services in Italy.”

During the night of 4/5th September the 56th (London) Division, including 9th Royal Fusiliers under CO Lieutenant-Colonel John Rutherford ‘Jock’ Cleghorn, supported by tanks of 7th Armoured Brigade, advanced to attack the village of Croce, a key position of the German Gustav Line. The area was defended by German troops of the 290th Regiment of the 98th Division and mountain troops of 100th Gebirgsjager Regiment firing from Gemmano and Monte Gardo on the Fusiliers’ left flank. As Cleghorn took his battalion forward they encountered a strong force of Germans dug in on a dominating feature which commanded the surrounding countryside. Cleghorn launched an immediate attack and seized the position after vicious fighting but by daylight the Fusiliers were receiving heavy shellfire from the Gebirgsjägers on the left flank. For the next five days the Fusiliers were subjected to heavy shell-fire and severe counter attacks. The house to house fighting was vicious, resulting in the loss of hundreds of casualties on both sides and dozens of British tanks. For his command of 9th Royal Fusiliers during the period 4-9 September 1944. Colonel Cleghorn was awarded the D.S.O.

Sergeant William Powell, aged 25 years, was killed in action during the first day’s counter attacks on 6 September. He was the son of William Henry and Ada Powell and husband of Betty Mary Powell and was buried in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery. Sold with original news cutting and full MOD record of service.