Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Second World War ‘Bath Blitz’ G.M. pair awarded to Company Sergeant-Major, later Second Lieutenant J. A. Leslie, 6th Somerset (Bath Admiralty) Battalion, Home Guard

George Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue (Coy. Sgt. Major James Adamson Leslie); Defence Medal, unnamed as issued, good very fine (2) £3,000-£3,600

Provenance: Bonhams, March 2008.

G.M. London Gazette 3 December 1942 Company Sergeant-Major James Adamson Leslie, Home Guard (Oxted, Surrey):
‘In recognition of conspicuous gallantry in carrying out hazardous work in a very brave manner.’

The original recommendation states: ‘Company Sergeant-Major Leslie showed outstanding courage and personal bravery in rescue work during the night of 26th/27th April 1942, and in the following days at Bath. The Regina Hotel had been hit and although the raid was still in progress he made his way into the basement through a small hole which allowed only one man to enter at a time, and himself rescued a number of people. A woman was trapped by falling masonry and hanging by her knees. Company Sergeant-Major Leslie supported her for a considerable time while other men worked at the masonry to release her. During this time there was such danger that both might be killed by falling masonry that they were covered with a sheet so that they could not see the blocks if they fell. There was imminent danger of fire and at one period Company Sergeant-Major Leslie had to be doused with water to prevent his clothes catching fire, but throughout it all he never wavered. During the same night Company Sergeant-Major Leslie swarmed up the side of a shop and tore down the blazing shop blind and fixture in an attempt to prevent the spread of fire after the firemen had given up the task as hopeless.’

James Adamson Leslie was born on 8 March 1905, at Kirkaldy, Fifeshire, and entered the postal service as a telegraph messenger before joining the Scots Guards, serving with them from 1926-38. He afterwards worked for the Post Office in the Surrey and Kent area and early in the war was loaned to a Civil Service Admiralty department in Bath. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant shortly after his heroic work during the Bath Blitz in April 1942, during which more than 1,200 civilians were killed and injured, and was presented with the George Medal at an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 16 March 1943. He died on 6 January 1990, aged 84.

Sold with a quantity of original documents including contemporary news cuttings, letters of congratulation, a Scots Guards diary for 1929, and box of issue for the George Medal.