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

№ 1463

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2 April 2003

Hammer Price:
£1,050

A fine Second World War M.M. group of six awarded to Lance-Bombardier A. Y. Thomson, Royal Artillery, who carried out several shoots on Arnhem Bridge whilst serving as an Observation Officer’s Assistant in September 1944

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (1444116 L. Bmbr. A. Y. Thomson, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals; Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., Territorial (1444116 Gnr., R.A.), mounted as worn, generally good very fine or better (6) £800-1000

M.M. London Gazette 21 January 1946. The recommendation states:

‘Lance-Bombardier Thomson has been ‘C’ Troop Observation Officer’s Assistant from last September at Elst until the end of the campaign, and during that time he has shown great courage and coolness both in static Observation Posts and when forward with his Forward Observation Officer during Infantry attacks.

While in the church tower at Elst on 24-25 September 1944, he carried out several shoots on Arnhem Bridge despite direct fire from an 80mm. S.P. Gun and very heavy artillery fire directed against the tower which was frequently hit.

During the attack southwards from Bedburgh by ‘A’ Company, 4th Wiltshire Regiment on 12 February 1945, Lance-Bombardier Thomson went out on foot with a 38-Wireless Set when the Observation Post carrier was temporarily held up by mines and although the road had not been reached by our troops, and was under heavy enemy fire, he pushed on to the Infantry objective and took three prisoners on the way.

On the following morning, 13 February, when the Company was heavily counter-attacked by enemy Infantry who got within 70 yards of the Company H.Q., Thomson manned the Bren Gun at the front of the building and his example of determination and coolness greatly encouraged those around him in their successful defence.

Lance-Bombardier Thomson has consistently shown himself as a very determined and courageous member of the Observation Post crew and he has never hesitated to fight as an Infantryman when things got difficult. His never failing cheerfulness and his complete disregard for his own safety have been an inspiration to all those who have fought with him.’

N.B.
Elst was situated about six miles south of Arnhem, and a similar distance north of Nijmegen, a location that inevitably qualified it as a major landmark in the bitter fighting of September 1944. Before it was reached by Horrock’s XXX Corps, the town had been used by the 9th S.S. Panzer Reconnaissance Battalion, whose C.O. was killed leading the famous armoured assault on Arnhem Bridge. But it was at Elst that XXX Corps’ armour was halted, an alternative drive to the north-west being made by the 43rd Wessex Division, who reached Driel on the banks of the Rhine, just one mile away from the Airborne’s positions the other side of the river. For most of this time Elst was held by Major Hans-Peter Knaust’s armoured battalion - 25 60-ton Tiger tanks and 20 Panthers, so Bombardier Thomson’s sojourn in the church tower must have been a memorable one indeed.