Auction Catalogue

2 April 2003

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria. Including a superb collection of medals to the King’s German Legion, Police Medals from the Collection of John Tamplin and a small collection of medals to the Irish Guards

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 76

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2 April 2003

Hammer Price:
£1,900

A Second World War Burma operations M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal D. Morrison, 116th Regiment (The Gordon Highlanders) R.A.C.

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (2884179 Cpl. D. Morrison, R.A.C.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; War Medal 1939-45 contact marks, otherwise generally good very fine (4) £600-700

M.M. London Gazette 2 August 1945. The recommendation states:

‘At Legyaing on 27 March 1945, Corporal Morrison displayed great coolness and courage. His tank stopped in the corner of the village with a petrol stoppage. This corner of the village was still in enemy hands. With great coolness he stepped out of his tank to rectify the fault; he then observed three Japs in a bunker close to the tank; he engaged them with his sten gun and a grenade. Immediately Jap fire from L.M.Gs and rifles opened up all round the stranded tank. Corporal Morrison took immediate command of the situation, organising his Bombay Grenadier escort and a section of the 4/15 Punjabis to attack the positions. He then with the assistance of his crew, removed the engine top plate and repaired the fault still under sustained fire. A heavy burst of L.M.G. fire hit the side of the tank, but under Corporal Morrison’s leadership the work continued until the tank was again a runner. This action not only saved the tank, but helped to restore a serious situation which arose without warning in an area which was thought to be clear of the enemy at the time the tanks approached.’

In March 1942, the 9th Gordons were converted into a tank regiment, becoming the 116th Regiment (The Gordon Highlanders) R.A.C.