Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria, to include the Brian Ritchie Collection (Part III)

A fine Second World War Normandy 1944 M.C. attributed to Lieutenant J. D. Godfrey, Royal Armoured Corps

Military Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially dated ‘1945’, in its Royal Mint case of issue, extremely fine £500-600

M.C. London Gazette 19 October 1944. The original recommendation states:

‘On 29 June 1944, an infantry attack was mounted, the objective being an orchard held by the enemy in the area of Grainville sur Odon. Both infantry and tanks came under heavy fire and found it difficult to get on. Lieutenant Godfrey lost his tank but realising the infantry were in difficult circumstances, having lost most of their officers, he led them forward under intense machine-gun and mortar fire to the objective. His example and determination ensured that they kept close on the assaulting tanks.

The infantry later retired under heavy mortar fire but Lieutenant Godfrey remained attending to their casualties and engaging the enemy. He then went back and secured another tank which he brought back and fought on to the objective until it was finally knocked out.’

John Douglas Godfrey, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Godfrey, R.A., of Newton Abbott, Devon, was originally commissioned into the R.A.C. in July 1943. Sadly, however, about four weeks after his gallant deeds at Grainville sur Odon, he was killed in action on 30 July 1944, while serving in ‘B’ Squadron, 7th Royal Tank Regiment (R.A.C.). Aged 20 years, he was buried in Fontenay-Le-Pesnel War Cemetery, Tessel. His brother, Alfred William, was also killed in action.

Sold with original War Office forwarding letter for his M.C., addressed to his father and dated 6 October 1945, with attached ‘statement submitted in support of the recommendation for this award.’