Auction Catalogue

23 June 2005

Starting at 10:00 AM

.

Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Grand Connaught Rooms  61 - 65 Great Queen St  London  WC2B 5DA

Lot

№ 1282

.

23 June 2005

Estimate: £1,200–£1,400

A Second World War M.M. group of seven to Lieutenant W. M. P. O’Grady, South African Artillery

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (53533 T/Sjt., S.A.A.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 8th Army clasp; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; Africa Service Medal, the last six officially named (53533 W. M. P. O’Grady), mounted Court style, generally nearly extremely fine (7) £1200-1400

M.M. London Gazette 10 February 1942. Recommendation sates: ‘On 10th July 1942, in Tel-el-Eisa area, Sgt. O’Grady was in command of a 50mm anti tank gun. During the morning this gun put out of action an Italian M13 Tank and, later in the afternoon 7 German Mark III tanks moved across his front. He held the fire of his gun until the leading tank was directly opposite his gun and within 500 yards. With his first two rounds he set on fire and destroyed the two leading tanks. The remainder retired but not before the third tank in the line had also fallen victim to his gun. Sgt. O’Grady’s coolness and steadiness under fire was an inspiration to his men, and to his example can be attributed the accuracy of this performance’.

William Michael Patrick O’Grady was born on 23 September 1911, the son of Mrs W. A. O’Grady of 24 Eagle Road, Wembley, England. Living and working as a sales manager in South Africa with the onset of war, O’Grady enlisted as a Gunner in the 3rd Medium Battery, 1st Medium Brigade, South African Artillery on 1 July 1940. Posted to the 2nd Anti-Tank Battery, 1st Anti-Tank Regiment in October 1940, he embarked on the
Durban Castle for Mombassa. Equipped with 2 pounders, the 2nd Anti Tank Battery was attached to the 12th African Division, which took part in several operations against the Italians in East Africa.

The Battery was then moved to the Middle East, arriving at Port Tewfik in June 1941, where the 1st South African Division was assembling in preparation of operations against the Italians and Germans in North Africa. Promoted to Temporary Serjeant in February 1942, O’Grady was in action at Tel-el-Eisa on 10 July 1942, accounting for four enemy tanks with his gun, for which he was awarded the Military Medal. Two days later he was again in action, as recorded in War in the Desert, ‘Troops of the 1st S.A. A/Tk. Regt. Had been constantly on the move in support of British and Australian as well as South African units during late June and early July, and on July 10 when an enemy counter-attack developed south of the railway it was broken up by 2 pounder and 6 pounder anti-tank fire, with Lt. J. G. C. Kelly’s troop distinguishing itself. ...... At about 6p.m. on July 12, after heavy artillery preparation, German infantry attacked the Australians. Lt. Kelly of 1st S.A. A/Tk. Regt. supporting 26th Australian Infantry Brigade, received an ugly wound on the head but he Sgt. [W]. M. P. O’Grady and L/Bdr. E. R. Thomson attended Australian wounded under heavy fire till they were evacuated after dark’. Lieutenant Kelly was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for his actions on the 12th July. For his exertions, O’Grady was promoted to Temporary Warrant Officer Class 2 in August that year and remaining with his battery, served in the operations commencing 23/24 October 1942, at El-Alamein.

In January 1943, he, along with his battery were withrawn to South Africa. After a period of leave, O’Grady returned to duty and volunteered for service outside of Africa with the newly formed 6th South African Armoured Division. His unit returned to North Africa in September 1943, was amalgamated with the 11th Anti-Tank Regiment, to be subsequently styled the 1/11th Anti-Tank Regiment. In November 1943 O’Grady left his regiment, having been recommended for a commission. Having completed his training in May 1944, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Field Artillery. Promoted a War Substantive Lieutenant in November that year, he was posted for service in Italy with the 17th Field Regiment R.A. He remained seconded to British forces until September 1945, when he returned to South Africa, being released from the service in December 1945.

O’Grady was presented with his Military Medal at a ceremony at Pretoria on 22 November 1946. Sold with a folder of copied service details and research.