Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good ‘Desert Rats’ M.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant D. J. Fitzpatrick, 11th Hussars, later captured in Holland but escaped

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (401023 Sjt. D. J. Fitzpatrick, 11-H); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; Defence and War Medals, extremely fine (7) £1200-1500

M.M. London Gazette 25 November 1943. The recommendation states:

‘On April 7th, Sgt. Fitzpatrick was in charge of a mortar section mounted in a White Scout Car under command of an Armoured Car Troop Leader. Near Djedida he heard German voices and realised that the troop had been ambushed by a strong force hidden in the olive groves. He quickly warned the Troop Leader and almost at once the troop came under heavy fire from two 88mm guns only 400 yards away and many machine guns. The Troop Leader’s car was knocked out and Sgt. Fitzpatrick, finding it impossible to turn round, ordered his men to dismount just before his own car was knocked out. For the next hour he led his men, encouraging them and crawling through the cornfields under intense fire and later pursued by infantry. Eventually he got them into safety and under cover of darkness the whole section returned to our lines. By his quick action and fine leadership he saved the lives of his men. Sgt. Fitzpatrick has served in the Western Desert since the outbreak of hostilities and at all times he has shown complete disregard for his personal safety. I recommend that he be awarded the Military Medal.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 20 September 1945.

The circumstances of Sergeant Fitzpatrick’s capture in Holland in September 1944 are described in the regimental history: ‘In the course of the operations ‘A’ Squadron’s No. 2 Troop, passing through the tanks which had captured St Nicolas, ran into heavy opposition in the next village three miles on, which they found to be held by guns and infantry with at least three tanks. Lieutenant Sutton had just reported this, when the Troop was confronted by a German Panther. Most of them were trapped by the fire of the Panther, and Sutton was compelled to surrender with four of his men. Among them was Sergeant D. J. Fitzpatrick, a former provost-sergeant of regimental headquarters and one of the Regiment’s oldest N.C.O.s, who maintained his reputation for courage and resource by escaping to regain the British lines some eight weeks later.

Dennis Joseph Fitzpatrick was born on 4 March 1906, and enlisted into the Cavalry of the Line on 31 January 1927. After postings with the King’s Dragoon Guards, 5th Irish Dragoon Guards, and the 15/19th Hussars, he was finally posted to the 11th Hussars in March 1938. He served with the regiment in Palestine from July to September 1938, for which service his General Service Medal was sent to his mother in October 1945. In the early desert days of the war he had started as a member of an armoured car crew in ‘A’ Squadron, rose to become Troop Corporal to Lieutenant P. Palin Evans, and then became Troop Sergeant to Captain R. E. Wingfield Digby, M.C. Sergeant Fitzpatrick was fatally injured in a car accident on 8 September 1945, and was buried in the British Military Cemetery in Berlin.