A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties

Four: Corporal T. J. M. Bell, 5th (Scottish) Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps, killed in action at the Sangro River, 23 January 1944

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Army Council enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘Mrs. J. Bell, Nether Gribton Cottage, Holywood, Dumfries’, extremely fine (4) £100-140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Thomas John Murray Bell served with the 5th (Scottish) Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps during the Second World War, and was killed in action at the Sangro River, Italy, on 23 January 1944, aged 20. Between November 1943 and March 1944 the 5th were in the Adriatic Sector where they carried out aggressive patrolling and suffered numerous casualties during the bitter Winter campaign, especially in the battle along the Sangro River, where they were involved in almost daily fighting in the long muddy battle. The river at the time of Bell’s death was in flood, and was described as being ‘the size of the Thames at Hammersmith’. He is buried in the Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy.

Sold together with a photograph of the recipient’s original cross-marked grave.