Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Second War ‘1940’ D.C.M. group of seven awarded to Warrant Officer Class II H. Sherriff, 1st Battalion, The Loyal Regiment, for his gallantry in silencing two enemy machine-guns with his Bren Gun, whilst acting as part of a bridge guard at Pont-a-Chin, near Tournai, 22 May 1940. He went on to serve as part of the rearguard to enable the Dunkirk evacuation, and was amongst the last British troops to be evacuated on the night of 2/3 June 1940

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (3854714 Sjt. H. Sherriff. Loyal R.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (3854714 W.O. Cl. 2. H. Sherriff. Loyals.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (3854714 W.O. Cl. 2. H. Sherriff. (D.C.M.) Loyals.) mounted as originally worn, unit of last partially officially corrected, toned, generally very fine or better (7) £3,000-£4,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1940:

‘On May 22nd 1940 at Pont a Chine [sic] his company was in a defensive position on the canal. Two enemy M. Guns continuously harassed the position from 400 yards distance. Sgt. Sherriff spotted their position and with one man crawled forward to within 200 yards of the enemy posts. He then stood up and by resting a Bren Gun on a wire fence opened fire and silenced both enemy guns. He showed great courage and devotion to duty, and his action saved many lives.’

Horace ‘Harry’ Sherriff was born in April 1908. He enlisted in 2nd Battalion, The Loyal Regiment at Boston, Lincolnshire in February 1933, and served with the Battalion in Shanghai, October 1936 - March 1938, and in Singapore, March 1938 - July 1939. Sherriff transferred to the 1st Battalion and served with them as part of the B.E.F. in France from 23 September 1939. The Battalion served as part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division. Sherriff distinguished himself as part of a platoon of ‘B’ Company which had formed a bridge guard at Pont-a-Chin, a hamlet by the River Scheldt, situated three miles north-west of Tournai. The remainder of May was spent fighting as part of the rearguard to enable the Dunkirk evacuation. The Battalion eventually moved back to occupy the fortified town of Bergues (just short of 6 miles south of Dunkirk, and is linked to Dunkirk by the Bergues Canal). Sherriff was amongst the last British troops to be evacuated to the UK on the night 2/3 June 1940.

Sherriff served with the Regiment in North Africa from November 1943, and on into the Italian campaign. He was appointed Acting Quarter Master Sergeant in February 1944, and advanced to Company Sergeant Major in November 1945. Sherriff served in Palestine January 1945 - February 1947. He subsequently served with the No. 9 Travelling Wing, teaching and instructing Army Cadets. Sherriff was discharged, 14 February 1955, having served 22 years. He and his wife were later employed at Burrows Wood, West Drive, Wentworth - the property now being on the 15th fairway of the championship golf course.

Sold with the following related items and documents: Regular Army Certificate of Service; Soldier’s Service and Pay Book; Army Certificate of Education Second Class, dated 11 December 1934; a large framed embroidered silk, with photograph of recipient in uniform in centre, worded ‘2nd Battalion The Loyal Regiment 81st Regt. of Foot. Shanghai Defence Force China 1936-1937, No. 3854714 L/C. H. Sherriff’; a hand-written testimonial written by O.C. No. 9 Travelling Wing, R.A.D.; a number of photographs from various stages of recipient’s military service; Post Office Savings Bank Book; Electoral Registration Card (Armed Forces), dated 16 November 1954; Souvenir programme for the Coronation Celebrations, Shanghai, China 12 May 1937 - in the parade for which the 2nd Battalion, The Loyal Regiment took part; a book of postcards entitled ‘12 Views of Singapore and Malaya Series II’; a copy of History of the First Division, Florence to Monte Grande, August 1944 - January 1945; and a quantity of other ephemera and correspondence from later life.