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

A Second World War ‘Fall of France 1940’ D.C.M. group of five to Warrant Officer Class 1 J. T. Shenton, 5th/2nd Search Light Regiment, Royal Artillery, late Sherwood Foresters

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (4966190 T-W.O. Cl. 1, J. Shelton, R.A.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals; Army L.S.& G.C., G.VI.R., 1st issue, Regular Army (4966190 W.O. Cl. 3, J. T. Shenton, D.C.M., R.A.), note different spelling of surname, mounted as worn, extremely fine (5) £2000-2500

D.C.M. London Gazette 11 July 1940. ‘Shelton, J., T/Warrant Officer Cl. 1 (R.S.M.) 4066190, 2nd S/L Regt., Royal Artillery’. ‘T.S.M. Shelton set a splendid example of coolness and efficiency. With his Troop he was attached to an Infantry Bn. on May 24th and organised a defensive position which succeeded in holding up the enemy. His action throughout six days inspired confidence and he finally brought all the survivors of his troop to England’.

John Thomas Shelton was born in 1902. A coal miner by occupation, he enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters in Nottingham on 11 August 1922. With them he served in India, February 1923-November 1933 and Jamaica, September 1935-February 1939. He then transferred to the Royal Artillery, serving at home, 16 February-31 December 1939. Shelton was with the B.E.F. in France and Belgium from 1 January 1940 and was awarded the D.C.M. for his rearguard actions in May, being evacuated to England on 31 May 1940. He continued to serve with the Royal Artillery at home until 20 July 1945 when he was discharged through ‘Ceasing to fulfil Army Physical Requirements’.

Sold with recipient’s original Certificate of Service; National Provincial Bank Book, 1941-49 - address given as ‘New Inn, Stoborough, Wareham’ ; O.H.M.S. Envelope addressed to ‘Sgt-Major John Shelton, D.C.M., 2nd Searchlight Regt. Royal Artillery, Boreridge House, Cranborne, Dorset’, containing St. James’s Palace Compliments Slip and Buckingham Palace Investiture witness admittance ticket; medal forwarding slip; Army L.S.& G.C. card box of issue lid bearing recipient’s name and discharge booklet.