Auction Catalogue

16 April 2020

Starting at 10:00 AM

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 494

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16 April 2020

Hammer Price:
£2,800

Six: Private C. O’Gorman, 1st (Airborne) Battalion, the Border Regiment (Army Air Corps), who was present at Arnhem

1939-45 Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; General Service 1918-62, 2 clasps, Palestine 1945-48, Malaya (3606318 Pte. C. O’Gorman. A.A.C.) good very fine (6) £600-£800

C. O’Gorman attested for the Border Regiment and served during the Second World War with the 1st (Airborne) Battalion. As part of the 1st Air-Landing Brigade, 1st (Airborne) Battalion, the Border Regiment first went into action at Sicily, but, as a result of mistimed glider cast-offs and other errors, only around 200 of its men actually reached the Island. Returning home from Italy at the end of 1943, the Battalion was based at Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, but in the weeks leading up to operation Market Garden, it was re-billetted at Burford, Oxfordshire. Having then arrived in Horsa gliders on Landing Zone ‘S’ - just north of the Amsterdam to Arnhem railway line - on 17 September 1944, the 1st Borders encountered bitter opposition over the coming days, well over 100 of its men being killed in action, and many more wounded or taken Prisoner of War. Luckily for O’Gorman, who would have ended up on the western side of the Oosterbeek perimeter, he was among those who made it back over the Rhine on 25 September 1944.

O’Gorman later served in post-War Palestine and Malaya- it is speculated that he was serving with the S.A.S. in the latter campaign, although this has not been confirmed.

Sold with copied entry from Regimental Arnhem roll.