Special Collections

Sold on 27 September 2017

1 part

.

A Collection of Awards for Burma Operations during the Second World War

Download Images

Lot

№ 459

.

27 September 2017

Hammer Price:
£1,000

A Second War 1944 Burma operations M.M. group of six awarded to Corporal S. S. Donne, West Yorkshire Regiment

Military Medal, G.VI.R. (4621544 Cpl. S. S. Donne. W. York. R.); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, 1 clasp, 8th Army; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals, mounted for display, generally very fine (6) £800-1000

M.M. London Gazette 28 June 1945:

‘Period 16 May 44 - 15 Aug 44. Throughout this period Cpl. Donne has acted as signal NCO with a rifle Coy or as NCO I/C line party. He has taken part in every operation which the Bn has performed.

His invariable coolness, gallantry and devotion to duty have been most marked and have been a great incentive to the signallers under him to carry out their duties under the most trying conditions.

On one occasion on the Kohima road he was in charge of a party laying lines to the fwd Coys. He showed great perseverance in finding the Coys in darkness and in extremely thick country which had NOT been cleared of enemy. Later the same night he went fwd to reconnoitre a route for a lateral line to another Coy and successfully carried out his hazardous task, thereby establishing communication with an isolated Coy at a critical time.

On another occasion on the Tiddim Road, he was with a platoon which had done an encircling movement. The wireless set broke down and it was essential to inform Bn HQ of the whereabouts of the platoon. Cpl. Donne alone took back the wireless set through several miles of thick jungle in very close proximity to the enemy, delivered the message and returned to the platoon with a new set.

These two incidents are typical of his conduct throughout the operation.’