Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Private F. G. Gerring, Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, who was killed in action in Italy on 16 December 1944
1939-45 Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, nearly extremely fine

Five: Private W. H. Wheeler, Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment
1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, mounted as worn, the 1939-45 Star a later issue, good very fine (9) £80-£120

Francis George Gerring enlisted into the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 13 December 1939 and was transferred into the 2/5th Battalion of The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment on 25 September 1944. He was killed in action on 16 December 1944 and is buried in Forili War Cemetery. His company commander wrote:
‘Your husband was leading a Platoon attempting to cross the River Lamone, he was giving covering fire to his section when the enemy put down an Artillery and Mortar concentration and a shell landed right by him. He was killed instantly and I assure you he knew nothing at all about it, I was with him immediately he was hit and he died without knowing what had happened.’

Sold with various original documents, including named transmittal slip, notification and certificates of death and the letter referred to above.

William Herbert Wheeler served with the 2/6th Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment, Queens Brigade which was part of the 56th London Division.

Sold with a small quantity of original documents, to include Wheeler’s pay book, release book and photographs.