Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Ordinary Telegraphist G. W. Pearce, Royal Navy, who was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for outstanding service during the operations which led to the capture of the Island of Elba when he was attached to 2 Combined Operations Bombardment Unit with the French Groupe de Commandos d’Afrique

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; France, Fourth Republic, Croix de Guerre 1939, with silver star, together with metal insignia of the Groupe de Commandos d’Afrique, original pin-back badge by Grazziani of Algiers, some loss of paint to the last, otherwise good very fine and very rare (6) £300-£400

Seedie’s Roll confirms Croix de Guerre, ‘2nd Bombardment Group, Elba’ but not gazetted. Accompanying Admiralty letter (see below) states: ‘Confirmation, when approved, will be promulgated in Fleet Orders and in the Press.’

Sold with Admiralty letter dated 24 July 1946, granting unrestricted permission to wear the enclosed Croix de Guerre with Silver Star, awarded by the President of the Provisional Government of France ‘for outstanding service during the operations which led to the capture of the Island of Elba’; and original French permission to wear the insignia of the Groupe de Commandos d’Afrique from Lieutenant-Colonel Bouvet, Commandant le Groupe de Commandos d’Afrique, to ‘PJX 330231 O/TEL Pearce G. Royal Navy Attached to 2 Combined Operations Bombardment Unit a porter l’insinge du Groupe de Commandos qu’il lui a remis pour sa participation aux Combats de l’Ile d’Elbe (17-19 Juin 1944) dans les rangs du Groupe de Commandos.’ Together with Admiralty report on Operation “Brassard”, the assault of Elba.